India wants to ramp up its ties with Uzbekistan in sectors like digital payments, start-ups, agri and pharma to mark the 30th year of their diplomatic relations. Amidst rising geopolitical tensions, the ties between India and Uzbekistan have become important to the government’s vision of an integrated extended neighbourhood.
Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday that increasing cooperation in seven emerging areas will help boost economic ties between the two nations. Goyal said this while addressing the 13th session of India-Uzbekistan Inter Governmental Commission (IGC) in the national capital.
Bilateral trade, as per the Economic Times, has increased from USD 247 million in 2019-20 to USD 342 million in 2021-22.
The Uzbekistan delegation was led by Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi twill be making a visit o Uzbekistan in September, and Khodjaev said that he is looking forward to receiving the dignitary.
He also said the PM’s visit will be utilised for giving a significant boost to the bilateral relations in sectors of mutual interest. PM Modi had last visited the country in 2015, when he held bilateral talks with the then President Islam Karimov. The relations between the two countries date back several years in history.
