India and Uzbekistan have upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set a $5 billion annual trade target by 2030.
The two countries signed/exchanged 11 agreements covering mining, tourism, culture, education, Ayurveda and other sectors.
They agreed to establish a framework for the long-term supply of uranium from Uzbekistan to India for peaceful civil nuclear cooperation.
Cooperation will expand in critical minerals, defence, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, health, information technology (IT), digital public infrastructure and education.
UPI (Unified Payments Interface) apps will be enabled to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR for merchant payments, while India announced a $1 million grant for afforestation in the Aral Sea region.
The two sides also agreed to conserve the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites in southern Uzbekistan.