News: India + Uzbekistan → Strategic Partnership elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; bilateral trade target → $5 billion by 2030.

Major Areas

• Political: Joint Commission → Ministerial level; Foreign Ministers’ Coordination Council.
• Trade: Target → $5 billion by 2030; focus → energy, pharma, agriculture, tourism, critical minerals.
• Critical Minerals: Exploration → mining → processing → integrated value chains.
• Nuclear: Long-term uranium supply → India’s energy security.
• Defence: Co-development + co-production of defence equipment; joint fight against terrorism + extremism + separatism.
• Digital: UPI + UZQR → easier merchant payments for Indian users.
• Culture: Restoration of Fayaz Tepa + Kara Tepa Buddhist sites.
• Environment: $1 million grant → afforestation in Aral Sea region.

Central Asia Dimension

• Uzbekistan → key pillar of India’s Central Asia engagement.
• Cooperation → energy security + critical minerals + defence + connectivity + cultural diplomacy.
• Strengthens India’s role in a multipolar, rules-based international order.