Modi, Uzbek President talk long-term uranium supply, set $5 billion trade target

Elevating their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, India and Uzbekistan Sunday discussed establishing a framework for long-term supply of uranium to India and set a bilateral trade target of USD 5 billion by 2030.

These were the key takeaways after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent for bilateral talks. Modi was conferred Uzbekistan’s highest award for foreign leaders, Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order, which he dedicated to the “enduring bond” between India and Uzbekistan.

“Uzbekistan is at the heart of Central Asia, and at the heart of India’s engagement with the region. There is a deep alignment between the thinking and aspirations of India and Uzbekistan. Youth, innovation, inclusive growth, and modern technology lie at the core of both ‘Yangi Uzbekistan’ and ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

Guided by this shared vision, we are working for the welfare of the people of both our nations,” Modi said. “This year marks the 15th anniversary of our Strategic Partnership. On this special occasion, we have decided to elevate our relationship to the status of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Today, we have prepared an ambitious agenda to advance this new phase of our partnership with rapid momentum and concrete results,” he said. Mirziyoyev said his country is determined to boost ties with India in diverse sectors.

“We are aiming to advance cooperation in sectors such as energy, culture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, jewellery and agriculture.” “We will prepare roadmaps for each of these sectors; specific teams from India will visit here, and our teams will travel to India, enabling us to clearly define our objectives in these fields,” he said.

In his remarks, Modi said, “We will also establish a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium.” India’s engagement with Central Asia has been on the rise. Security cooperation has deepened in the wake of Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

India has to deal with Chin­a’s influence in the strategically vital region, establish conne­ctivity projects and meet its growing energy needs. Later, Siby George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said, “Positive discussions have happened on long-term arrangement of supply of uranium to India.

We are closing in on the signing of an agreement very shortly.” New Delhi has been looking to procure uranium from Uzbekistan civilian nuclear power programme. The two sides also set a target of USD 5 billion bilateral trade by 2030.

India is among the top 10 trading partners of Uzbekistan. Bilateral trade in 2025-26 stood close to USD 1 billion. “Our bilateral trade has crossed the one-billion-dollar mark. We have now set a target of five billion dollars in trade by 2030.

To achieve this, we will move forward systematically on issues related to market access, connectivity, banking and payments,” Modi said. On defence and security ties, he said, “The close defence and security cooperation between our nations reflects our deep mutual trust.

In the future, we will promote direct linkages, co-production, and co-development between the defence industries of both countries.” On terrorism, he said, “We believe that terrorism, extremism and separatism pose serious challenges to the entire region.

Maintaining a policy of zero tolerance against these threats has been, and will continue to be, our shared resolve.” According to the joint statement, the leaders “unequivocally condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, reiterated zero tolerance approach to terrorism and rejected justification of terrorism on any ground whatsoever”.

“Leaders called for concerted actions against terrorist entities and for disrupting terrorism financing networks, safe havens and infrastructure. Leaders stressed that those responsible for terrorism should be held accountable and their perpetrators, their backers, facilitators and affiliates should be brought to justice,” it stated.