Uzbekistan – India: Time tested friendship
The close friendly relations between Uzbekistan and India have their roots deep in history. The eminent Uzbek scholar Al Biruni visited India in the 11th century and wrote his famous book Kitab-Takkik Al Hind, one of the famous books on Indian society and culture.
By Dilshod Akhatov
The close friendly relations between Uzbekistan and India have their roots deep in history. The eminent Uzbek scholar Al Biruni visited India in the 11th century and wrote his famous book Kitab-Takkik Al Hind, one of the famous books on Indian society and culture.
India is well-known in Uzbekistan for a long time as the country with rich history and unique culture; the country with which Uzbek people are connected with centuries-old cultural, trade and economic relations, and, above all – with bonds of sincere friendship.
Consulate General of India in Tashkent was formally inaugurated on 7th April 1987. Following Uzbekistan’s independence, it was upgraded to the level of Embassy through the signing of a Protocol on Diplomatic and Consular matters on 18th March 1992. India was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan and India share the common vision in main issues of international and regional cooperation. In May 2011, a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed between countries. The document expanded the opportunities for boosting the cooperation across a broad spectrum of dimensions, including all aspects of political, economic, cultural-humanitarian spheres, which the two sides consider mutually advantageous. Showing commitment to centuries-old traditions of friendly relations, today Uzbekistan and India demonstrate mutual interest to bring interstate partnership on the level of qualitatively new areas.
The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi regularly meet on several occasions within the framework of international and regional events.
On 30 September – 1 October 2018 President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited India on a State visit. Uzbekistan and India inked 17 agreements, including for visa free travel for diplomatic passport holders and cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, tourism, education, security, pharmaceuticals and others. Indian Prime Minister and President of Uzbekistan held bilateral and delegation level talks and agreed to collaborate across all areas.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in Global Summit “Vibrant Gujarat-2019” on January 17- 18 as the Chief Guest of the event. Within the framework of the summit President of Uzbekistan had separate bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India.
In the framework of the summit the two countries signed several investment and trade agreements worth more than $200 million. For the last two-three years we are witnessing active mutual exchange between Uzbekistan and India at all levels.
Several high-level exchanges also have taken place in the past years in the field of defence and security. The Defence Minister of Uzbekistan visited India in September 2018. The JWG on Defence Cooperation held its first meeting in February 2019. In October 2019, Deputy National Security Advisor of India also paid a visit to Tashkent and held first round of consultations with his counterparts in Uzbekistan.
In November 2019 Defence minister of India paid an official visit to Tashkent. This was the first visit to Uzbekistan by an Indian Defence Minister in the last 15 years. First time in the history of Uzbek Indian relations joint military exercises were also held. Moreover, in November 2019 Minister of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan visited New Delhi, and met with his Indian counterpart. The two ministers signed an Agreement on Security Cooperation between the respective ministries. This document aims to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in areas of counter-terrorism, organized crime, and human trafficking.
We have been successfully developing cooperation between foreign policy institutions of our countries as well as the dialogue on international problems, including the one in the framework of the United Nations and SCO.
Since beginning of pandemic Uzbekistan and India cooperated very closely in evacuating citizens stranded in the territories of both sides. India donated to Uzbekistan critical medicines.
It is noteworthy that despite coronavirus pandemic this year bilateral relations between our countries are continuing to develop steadily. Different level contacts are taking place in the format of videoconference.
The First meeting of National Committees to monitor implementation of mutually agreed projects between India and Uzbekistan has been conducted successfully on 24 August of this year. On 20th of November 2020 Ministries of Foreign Affairs of sides held the next round of Foreign Office Consultations. On 3rd of December, the 12th session of Intergovernmental commission on cooperation on trade, investment, science and technology was held in the format of videoconference.
The tendencies of strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia are opening up unprecedented opportunities for multifaceted deepening of interactions of the countries of the region with India.
Recently on 28th of October the 2nd session of Ministerial Dialogue «India – Central Asia» with participation of Afghanistan has taken place in online format, and hosted by Indian side. The Ministers of Central Asian countries and India discussed current issues of further strengthening relations in political, trade-economic, investment, transport-communication, tourism, cultural-humanitarian, environmental and other areas.
The establishment of Ministerial Dialogue «India – Central Asia» with participation of Afghanistan was the joint initiative of Uzbekistan and India which opened up a new page in the relations of India with the states of the region.
Abovementioned and upcoming bilateral events clearly show the serious intention of both sides to further development of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Nowadays, both nations benefit from favored trade relations. The annual trade turnover between Uzbekistan and India is average more than $300 million. This is of course small reflection of the trade potential between the two countries. Therefore, the leaders of Uzbekistan and India identified the task of increasing the level of bilateral trade to at least $1 billion within a couple of years.
The interest of Indian investors to Uzbekistan is growing. In particular, strong cooperation has been established in such areas as IT, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, hotel infrastructure management, production of automotive components, the implementation of joint programs in various areas of higher education. More than 280 enterprises with the participation of Indian capital operate in Uzbekistan, including about 100 joint ventures.
With the focus on attracting Indian pharmaceutical companies by the special Presidential Decree Andijan-Pharm FEZ was established in Andijan in 2019. Now number of different Indian pharmaceutical companies are in the process of implementing projects in that FEZ.
Establishment of direct cooperation between the regions of Uzbekistan and India is contributing further development of trade and investment relations. Governments of Gujarat state and Andijan region benefit close partnership ties. Chief Minister of Gujarat visited Uzbekistan in October 2019 with large delegation and participated in International Business Forum “Open Andijan”. During the visit the street and statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were inaugurated in Andijan city. It should be noted that cooperation between two regions became very successful and has turned a new chapter in the interregional relationship.
An important direction of cooperation is the further expansion of the mutually beneficial interaction in the field of air transport. Till the suspension of international flights due to pandemic “Uzbekistan Airways” weekly operated 12 regular flights from Tashkent to New Delhi, Amritsar, and Mumbai.
Uzbekistan and India have huge potential for further development of cooperation in the field of culture, education, science, innovation, technology, health and many other directions. Line of new developments have taken place in those spheres too.
Currently, the higher education institutions of Uzbekistan cooperate with more than 10 Indian universities and research institutions and centers. There has been the dynamic partnership in science; a number of research institutions of Uzbekistan’s Academy of Sciences interact and conduct joint research projects with academic centers in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Uzbek culture and Uzbek Language Division has been launched in Jamia Millia University and similar initiatives are planned to be introduced in Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University.
In accordance with the resolution of the President of Uzbekistan on establishing Amity University, a branch of Indian University opened in Tashkent and started its academic program from September 2019. The University will train personnel for IT sphere, including software and hardware developers, specialists in artificial intelligence, big data and ICT management.
Another Indian institution, the Sharda University has opened its branch in Andijan region of Uzbekistan in October 2019. The university will train specialists in the fields of electrical engineering, information technology and cyber security, maintenance of computer systems, electronics, communication engineering, and business management.
Now several other Indian universities are working on establishment of their campuses in other regions of Uzbekistan. At the same time, it is important to note that first time in our history The Bukhara State Medical Institute named after Abu Ali ibn Sino (Avicenna) opened its branch at the Indian International University in Noida.
Cultural ties constitute an important pillar in our bilateral relationship. There is an Indian Cultural Centre in Tashkent, which, recently celebrated 25 years of its establishment. Indo-Uzbekistan Friendship Society led by Dr. Anil Shastri and Indo-Uzbekistan Film and Culture Forum led by Sandeep Marwah were created and actively operating since 2018.
Uzbekistan participated as a “Partner Nation” of the 34th edition of one of the largest festivals in the world “Surajkund International Crafts Mela”, which was held Faridabad from 1 to 16 February in this year. High level delegations from India are regularly participating in analogical festivals in Uzbekistan.
Cooperation between Uzbekistan and India in the field of tourism is among the priority areas which is going to reach new heights in post-pandemic era. Majestic architectural monuments of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shakhrisabz listed in the cultural heritage of UNESCO, picturesque nature and climate, and also hospitality of the Uzbek people are an integral part of interests of Indians in modern day Uzbekistan.
Undoubtedly, cooperation between Uzbekistan and India has a huge potential and high opportunities thanks to strong and firm foundations of our relations – centuries old of friendship, trust and mutual understanding.
(Dilshod Akhatov is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of India )
