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Tazeen Akhtar | Islamabad<\/p>\nTazeen Akhtar | Islamabad<\/p>\n
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 23\u201324, 2026 on the sidelines of Jaishankar\u2019s official visit to Azerbaijan. Saidov had arrived in Baku from Georgia after attending the first joint meeting of foreign ministers of Georgia and five Central Asian countries \u2013 Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n
The two leaders reviewed progress on India\u2013Uzbekistan relations and emphasized the timely execution of agreements reached at the highest leadership level, Summit of Prime Minister Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Aug 2026.<\/p>\n
Key Focus Areas:
\n\u2022 Trade and economic cooperation (including goals toward expanding bilateral trade)
\n\u2022 Regional connectivity, notably the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
\n\u2022 Energy, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges
\n\u2022 Following up on high-level engagements, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s visit to Uzbekistan and the elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership<\/p>\n
Both Ministers discussed key issues on the bilateral agenda and emphasized the importance of the timely and effective implementation of agreements reached at the highest level.<\/p>\n
\u201cPleased to meet with H.E. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, in Baku. Discussed key issues on the bilateral agenda and emphasised the importance of the timely and effective implementation of agreements reached at the highest level,\u201d Saidov wrote on his telegram-channel and X.<\/p>\n
Jaishankar posted: \u201cNice to see Uzbek @FM_Saidov at Baku,\u201d sharing a photograph of the two.<\/p>\n
The Baku meeting is significant because it comes just two months after the landmark visit of Prime Minister Modi to Tashkent, where relations were upgraded to the highest level.<\/p>\n
PM MODI\u2019S HISTORIC VISIT TO UZBEKISTAN \u2013 AUGUST 2026
\nPrime Minister Narendra Modi paid a State Visit to Uzbekistan in August 2026 \u2013 his most substantive bilateral visit to Central Asia in his third term.<\/p>\n
Key highlights:<\/p>\n
1. Highest Honour: During the visit, PM Modi was conferred Uzbekistan\u2019s highest honour for foreign leaders \u2013 the Oliy Darajali Do\u2019stlik Order (Order of Friendship of the Highest Degree) \u2013 for his contribution to strengthening India-Uzbekistan friendship.<\/p>\n
2. Upgrade to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: New Delhi and Tashkent elevated relations from Strategic Partnership (2011) to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership \u2013 a status Uzbekistan reserves for very few partners. This reflects shared vision for regional stability, connectivity and development.<\/p>\n
3. USD 5 Billion Trade Target: Both leaders set an ambitious target of USD 5 billion bilateral trade by 2030, up from current USD 1.32 billion. To achieve this, they agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment to remove non-tariff barriers and streamline customs.<\/p>\n
4. Eleven Agreements Signed: During Modi\u2019s two-day visit, 11 agreements were signed covering:<\/p>\n
@ Critical Minerals & Energy: Joint ventures for geological exploration, mining and processing of lithium, copper, rare earths and strategic minerals; framework for long-term supply of uranium from Uzbekistan to India for India\u2019s nuclear energy programme<\/p>\n
@ Defence Industrial Co-Production: Transition from buyer-seller to co-production and co-development of military hardware, joint research; Uzbek Defence Industry Agency participation in Aero India<\/p>\n
@ Tashkent Pharma Park: Expanded Indian investments in drug manufacturing and clinical research<\/p>\n
@ Cultural Heritage: Letter of Intent for restoration, 3D digitization and conservation of ancient Buddhist monastic sites at Fayaz Tepa and Karatepa in Termez \u2013 evidence of India-Central Asia civilizational links from Kushan era<\/p>\n
@ Digital, Fintech, IT, Healthcare, Higher Education<\/p>\n
5. Institutional Upgrade: Elevated the bilateral Joint Commission from Secretary-level to Ministerial-level Coordination Council co-chaired by Foreign Ministers to oversee project execution \u2013 that is why the Baku meeting\u2019s focus on \u201ctimely implementation\u201d matters.<\/p>\n