India and Uzbekistan Agree to Establish Long-Term Uranium Supply Arrangement

India and Uzbekistan held leader-level talks in Tashkent on August 30, deciding to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and agreeing to establish an arrangement for long-term uranium supply from Uzbekistan to India, strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the field of civil nuclear energy.

Following talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the two sides would establish a long-term uranium supply arrangement. The specific scale, duration, and implementation mechanism of the arrangement have not yet been announced. India has in recent years continued to diversify its nuclear fuel sources, and Uzbekistan is an important uranium resource country in Central Asia. According to available information, the two countries signed a long-term uranium ore concentrate supply contract in 2019.

Beyond nuclear energy cooperation, the two sides also set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030. Currently, bilateral trade exceeds $1 billion. Modi stated that the two sides would address issues such as market access, banking services, payment systems, and connectivity in a systematic manner to create conditions for expanding trade and investment.

The talks also covered critical minerals, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, information technology, digital public infrastructure, education, culture, and tourism. The two sides signed multiple cooperation documents and planned to establish a coordination committee composed of foreign ministers to oversee cooperation across various sectors. The existing joint committee will also be elevated from secretary-level to ministerial-level.

In the areas of sub-national cooperation and urban development, India and Uzbekistan are advancing three sister-city and sister-state agreements. Modi also mentioned that Uzbekistan is advancing the construction of "New Tashkent," and India is willing to host Uzbek delegations to study the planning and technology application experience of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

The Uzbek side stated that it would develop roadmaps around key areas including energy, culture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, and agriculture, and would clarify cooperation goals through mutual team exchanges. Mirziyoyev also stated that Uzbekistan plans to implement a visa-free entry arrangement for Indian citizens for stays of up to 30 days, to promote tourism, business exchanges, and people-to-people ties.