India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership Deepens Ahead of Trade Boost
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in New Delhi on 3 August 2026, reviewing the two‑country strategic partnership that spans energy, infrastructure, trade, defence, education, culture and mining. The ministers highlighted India’s view of Uzbekistan as a key part of its extended neighbourhood and praised the latter’s zero‑tolerance stance on terrorism.
Bilateral trade is reported at roughly $1 billion and is expected to rise toward $1.5 billion, with both sides urging a push to double trade over the next three years. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called for co‑investment and a possible free‑trade agreement. India, chair of BRICS in 2026, expressed appreciation for Uzbekistan’s support of BRICS initiatives and pledged backing for Uzbekistan’s chairmanship of the Non‑Aligned Movement for 2027‑29. A parliamentary friendship group between the two nations has been established, and more than 3,000 Uzbek officials, professionals and students have benefited from India’s ITEC programmes while over 16,000 Indian students study in Uzbekistan.
Entities: Bakhtiyor Saidov · Droupadi Murmu · India · Ministry of External Affairs (India) · Piyush Goyal · S. Jaishankar · Uzbekistan
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] More than 3,000 Uzbek officials, professionals and students have benefited from India’s ITEC training and scholarship programmes, while over 16,000 Indian students are studying in Uzbekistan. (education_program_stats)
- [● 4 SOURCES] India, as the 2026 BRICS chair, praised Uzbekistan’s cooperation in BRICS initiatives. (praise_statement)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Bilateral trade between India and Uzbekistan is approximately $1 billion. (trade_value)
- [● 3 SOURCES] A parliamentary friendship group between India and Uzbekistan was established. (institution_creation)
- [● 4 SOURCES] India and Uzbekistan reviewed their strategic partnership covering energy, infrastructure, trade, defence, education, culture and mining. (review)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in New Delhi on 3 August 2026. (meeting)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Both India and Uzbekistan maintain a zero‑tolerance policy on terrorism and cross‑border extremist activities. (policy_statement)
- [● 3 SOURCES] India pledged support for Uzbekistan’s chairmanship of the Non‑Aligned Movement for 2027‑2029. (support_statement)