India Uzbekistan Relations: Trade Agreement, Summit, Partnership - UPSC Notes

Over the years, India and Uzbekistan have built a multifaceted partnership driven by strategic alignment. Strategically located in the Central Asia / Asia, Uzbekistan plays an indispensable role in global politics and security. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992 (Diplomatic Relations), India and Uzbekistan have cultivated a strong and evolving partnership. India and Uzbekistan sustain a Embassy, with each country’s embassy in the other’s capital facilitating strategic communication. The significance of India and Uzbekistan ties is of Gateway to Central Asia, connectivity, regional security, highlighted by their defense cooperation, economic collaboration, cultural exchanges, and common objectives in global security. 

• India and Uzbekistan work together in Trade, defense, connectivity, culture, education, IT such as defense, nuclear energy, trade, space exploration, oil and gas, cybersecurity, culture, and education. 
• To enhance mutual cooperation, India and Uzbekistan have formalized several agreements, particularly in the realm of Strategic Partnership (2011), Defence Cooperation (2005, 2019), BIPPA (1999). 
• India and Uzbekistan report a trade volume of Approx USD 690 million (2022-23), signaling further growth in their economic engagement. 
• Pharmaceuticals, machinery, vehicles, chemicals, optical instruments make up a major portion of India’s exports to Uzbekistan, underlining a robust trade framework. 
• India regularly imports Fruits, vegetables, services, fertilizers, silk from Uzbekistan as part of their established economic cooperation. 

India’s engagement with Uzbekistan in IT, pharma, vocational training, academic exchanges supports digital transformation and academic excellence. Focused on India Uzbekistan Relations, this article explores Strategic Summits, Diaspora Remittances, and Import-Export Trends to assist candidates in enhancing their GS Paper 2 and PSIR notes. 

India Uzbekistan Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Ties

Historical connections such as Post-Soviet independence, PM Rao visit (1993) mark the beginning of India–Uzbekistan relations. PM Rao (1993), President Karimov (multiple visits) stand out as milestones in the evolving diplomatic relationship between India and Uzbekistan. 

• Over the years, India and Uzbekistan have engaged through phases like Early ties, Strategic Partnership (2011), enhanced cooperation, deepening their ties.

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Strategic & Political Cooperation of India Uzbekistan Relations

The Gateway to Central Asia, connectivity, regional security of India and Uzbekistan cooperation includes mutual defense interests, economic partnerships, cultural engagement, and joint actions on global security issues. 

• Joint exercises, training, military-technical cooperation between India and Uzbekistan contributes to regional stability, border security, and peace through coordinated military activities. 
• With Joint working group, intelligence sharing, capacity building, India and Uzbekistan counter threats by sharing intelligence and conducting coordinated safety operations. 
• India’s Emerging cooperation, IT, digital economy focus initiatives with Uzbekistan strengthen digital defense, promote R&D, and support tech-driven growth. 
• UN, SCO, NAM facilitate engagement between India and Uzbekistan, strengthening regional and international collaboration. 
• The growing Uranium supplies, exploring renewable energy collaborations between India and Uzbekistan includes collaboration on clean energy, solar power, and energy security. 
• India and Uzbekistan engage in dynamic collaboration in MoU for peaceful uses of outer space, focusing on joint initiatives, knowledge-sharing, and exploration efforts. 
• India and Uzbekistan are working together on Air Services Agreement (1993), e-Visa facility to improve travel links and promote cross-cultural interaction. 
• Efforts like DTAA enforced since 07111994 have helped India and Uzbekistan establish stronger tax governance frameworks.

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Trade and Economic Overview of India Uzbekistan Relations

• Significant pacts covering areas like Strategic Partnership (2011), Defence Cooperation (2005, 2019), BIPPA (1999) have been established between India and Uzbekistan to strengthen collaboration. 
• India and Uzbekistan have reached a trade volume of Approx USD 690 million (2022-23), highlighting the deepening of their economic ties. 
• Investment flows comprise Indian investments growing, Uzbek investments nascent, along with notable joint ventures and collaborative projects between India and its trade ally. 
• Key platforms such as Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC), Foreign Office Consultations are held regularly, either every year or two, to review and enhance bilateral trade and investment ties. 
• India and Uzbekistan have granted several USD 1 billion LOC extended by India as part of their efforts to drive economic growth and reinforce financial cooperation. 
• The value of goods exported to India by Uzbekistan totaled Approx USD 4018 million (2022-23). 
• Pharmaceuticals, machinery, vehicles, chemicals, optical instruments are some of India’s top exports to Uzbekistan, showing the depth of their commercial partnership. 

Uzbekistans imports from India totaled Approx USD 64982 million (2022-23) as per the latest figures. Indian businesses active in Uzbekistan include GMR, KEC, Sun Pharma, Lupin, various SMEs, spanning manufacturing, IT, and services.

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement

The deep connection of the diaspora in both India and Uzbekistan plays a crucial role in advancing Fostering business, cultural ties, promoting soft power. India builds strong bonds with its partner country through Indian Cultural Centre, film festivals, youth exchanges that spread cultural awareness. India and its partner country support each other in education through programs like University tie-ups, IT training centers, scholarships. 

• The Approx 6000: professionals, businesspeople, students in Uzbekistan plays a pivotal role in enhancing the cultural and economic relationship between India and Uzbekistan. 
• Through the deployment of Defense (Hard), Culture, education, development aid (Soft), India and Uzbekistan seek to reinforce their strategic position and elevate their influence on the world stage.

India Uzbekistan Relations Recent Developments

India and Uzbekistan regularly engage through President Mirziyoyev (2018, 2019), PM Modi (Virtual 2020), focusing on trade, investment, and regional stability. Although MoUs: customs, agriculture, S&T, pharma, connectivity, existing partnerships continue to guide cooperation between the two countries. 

• As part of their bilateral agenda, India and Uzbekistan are pursuing Chabahar connectivity, IT parks, pharma, infrastructure. 
• India and Uzbekistan have acknowledged Connectivity constraints, market access, regional instability concerns as areas needing constructive resolution. 
• India and Uzbekistan hold promising Enhanced trade, connectivity, defense, energy, IT cooperation in multiple areas of bilateral cooperation.

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UPSC Relevance of India Uzbekistan Relations

• Questions on India’s bilateral relations with Uzbekistan may feature in UPSC Prelims under International Relations or Current Affairs.
• Interlinking bilateral ties with India’s strategic autonomy or multilateral engagement adds depth to GS answers.
• India–Uzbekistan ties can serve as case studies in essays on diplomacy, soft power, or global cooperation.
• History optional students may refer to ancient or colonial connections between India and Uzbekistan.