Bilateral: Uzbekistan-India relations history

by kaarthik shankar
Bilateral: Uzbekistan-India relations history

India-Uzbekistan relations are central to India’s vision of an integrated extended neighborhood. Outlined seven emerging areas of cooperation between the two countries, namely- Digital Payments, Space Cooperation, Agriculture & Dairy, Pharma, Gems & Jewellery, MSME and Inter-Sectoral Cooperation.

India-Uzbekistan Relations

  • India and Uzbekistan have a long history of cooperation. After the independence of Uzbekistan, India was one of the first countries to recognize its state sovereignty.
  • India and Uzbekistan have strengthened cooperation in various fields such as politics, trade, investment, defense, security, counter-terrorism, science and technology, atomic energy, space, and information technology, as well as cultural and educational ties between the two countries. Got a boost.

Defense Cooperation

  • Both sides welcomed the conduct of the joint military exercise “Dustlik 2019”.
  • India has also helped set up an India Room at the Uzbekistan Armed Forces Academy in Tashkent.

Security Cooperation

  • India and Uzbekistan share a common approach to a number of security issues including terrorism, transnational organized crime, illegal trafficking etc.
  • A key focus of the engagement in this area is providing support to Uzbek security agencies through training and capacity building.

Business

  • It has increased from US$ 247 million in the year 2019-20 to US$ 34.2 million in the year 2021-22, which is an increase of 38.5%.

Investment

  • Indian investments by Indian companies include investments in pharmaceuticals, amusement parks, automobile components and the hospitality industry.
  • Amity University and Sharda University have opened campuses in Tashkent and Andijan respectively.
  • Indian organizations such as create are actively collaborating with Uzbek counterparts to promote the startup ecosystem in Uzbekistan and provide training to entrepreneurs in setting up incubators.

Sightseeing

  • The Uzbek government has extended the e-Visa facility to Indian tourists.
  • Uzbekistan has also emerged as an important source of medical tourism, with approximately 8,000 Uzbeks visiting India annually for medical treatment.

Solar Energy

  • Uzbekistan has expressed interest in joining the International Solar Alliance.
  • There has been interesting in Indian participation in the development of the solar energy sector through competitive bidding.

Bilateral Mechanism

  • National Coordination Committees: India and Uzbekistan have formed National Coordination Committees to oversee the implementation of mutually agreed projects and initiatives.

Multilateral Initiatives

  • India-Central Asia Business Council: All five Central Asia to advance trade and investment partnerships with a special focus on energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive, agro-processing, education and urban infrastructure, transport, civil aviation, IT and tourism Business councils of Asian countries were brought together.
  • India-Central Asia Dialogue: It enables further strengthening of relations between India and the countries of Central Asia in politics, economics, digitization and cultural and humanitarian fields.

Challenges regarding India-Uzbekistan relations

  • The volume of trade and commerce between the two countries is very small.
  • Lack of connectivity, as Uzbekistan is a landlocked country and air connectivity infrastructure is comparatively underdeveloped.
  • China has included all Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, in the Belt and Road Initiative.

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