New Delhi, August 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on Saturday for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan, where he is scheduled to hold talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on a wide range of issues, including trade, investment, defence, energy and digital connectivity.
Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome upon his arrival, with President Mirziyoyev personally greeting him at the airport. The two leaders exchanged a warm embrace, reflecting the close ties and growing strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan.
The visit marks Prime Minister Modi’s fourth trip to Uzbekistan and comes at a time when India is seeking to further strengthen its engagement with Central Asia. The two countries are expected to review the progress of their existing cooperation and explore opportunities for expanding the partnership into new areas.
Trade, Investment and Defence High on Agenda
Prime Minister Modi and President Mirziyoyev will lead delegation-level discussions covering several key areas of bilateral cooperation. Trade and investment are expected to be among the major issues on the agenda, with both sides likely to examine ways to increase economic engagement and create new opportunities for businesses.
Defence cooperation will also receive significant attention. India and Uzbekistan have steadily expanded their security and defence engagement, including through military exercises and institutional exchanges. The two sides are expected to discuss ways to deepen cooperation and strengthen their strategic partnership in the security domain.
Energy is another important area of potential cooperation. With Central Asia becoming increasingly significant in India’s regional outreach, New Delhi is keen to explore opportunities for greater energy collaboration and connectivity.
Digital connectivity is also expected to feature prominently in the discussions. India’s experience in digital public infrastructure and technology-driven governance could provide avenues for greater cooperation with Uzbekistan as the country continues its digital transformation.
Education, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties are also expected to form part of the discussions. Both countries share longstanding historical and cultural links, and the leaders are likely to explore ways of strengthening these connections further.
PM Modi Highlights Shared Vision
Before departing for Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Modi said he looked forward to meeting President Mirziyoyev and discussing ways to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence and energy.
Modi also referred to the shared development aspirations of the two countries, highlighting the vision of “Viksit Bharat” or Developed India and “Yangi Uzbekistan”, meaning New Uzbekistan.
The Prime Minister said India and Uzbekistan could work together across several sectors to advance their common development objectives. His visit is therefore expected to focus not only on existing areas of cooperation but also on identifying new sectors where the two countries can build long-term partnerships.
The visit also carries significance for India’s broader Central Asia policy. New Delhi has been seeking stronger engagement with the region through economic, strategic, cultural and connectivity initiatives. Uzbekistan, as one of Central Asia’s key countries, occupies an important position in this approach.
Focus on Historical and Cultural Ties
Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to visit the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies during his stay. He is expected to visit the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, highlighting the historical and cultural links between India and Uzbekistan.
The visit to these institutions is expected to underline the importance India attaches to its long-standing people-to-people and cultural connections with Uzbekistan. Historical figures such as former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri have a particularly significant place in the shared history of the two countries.
By including these engagements in his itinerary, Modi is expected to emphasise that the bilateral relationship extends beyond diplomacy and economics and is rooted in longstanding cultural and historical exchanges.
From Uzbekistan to Kyrgyz Republic
Following his Uzbekistan visit, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Bishkek in the Kyrgyz Republic at the invitation of President Sadyr Japarov. There, he will participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
The two-stage visit will therefore combine bilateral diplomacy with India’s wider engagement with the Central Asian region and the SCO framework.
While the Uzbekistan leg will focus primarily on strengthening bilateral relations with President Mirziyoyev, the subsequent SCO summit will provide Modi an opportunity to engage with leaders from across the region and discuss broader regional and international issues.
The warm reception extended by President Mirziyoyev in Tashkent has set the tone for the Prime Minister’s visit. The outcome of the delegation-level talks is expected to provide greater clarity on the future direction of India-Uzbekistan cooperation.
With trade, investment, defence, energy, digital connectivity and education emerging as key areas, the visit could provide fresh momentum to the strategic partnership while reinforcing India’s engagement with Central Asia.
