The relations between India and Uzbekistan are based on shared historical and cultural ties. Over the years there has been a steady exchange of high level visits between the two countries. H.E. Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India accompanied by Indira Gandhi visited Uzbekistan in 1955 and 1961. H.E. Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Prime Minister of India visited Tashkent in January 1966. He died tragically in Tashkent. His name has been commemorated - a street and school have been named after him and there are both a statue and a bust in his memory in Tashkent. H.E. Mr. R. Venkataraman, the President of the Republic of India visited Uzbekistan in 1988, and H.E. Mr. V. P. Singh, the Prime Minister of India in July 1990.   H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov, the President of Uzbekistan visited India from 17-19 August 1991. Agreements on Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation and Cooperation in the spheres of Culture, Arts, Education, Science, Tourism, Sports and Mass Media were signed. Consulate General of India in Tashkent was formally inaugurated on 7th April 1987.

Following Independence of Uzbekistan, it was upgraded to the level of Embassy through the signing of a diplomatic and consular protocol on 18th March 1992.

Post-1991 period

Indo-Uzbek relations in the post-1991 period have been characterized by frequent exchange of high level visits. Some important visits are listed below:

• H.E. Mr. R.L.Bhatia, MOS for External Affairs of India visited Uzbekistan in October 1992. Documents signed included Agreement on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1992-94 and an Agreement for Cooperation in the fields of sports, education and mass media.
• H.E. Mr. P.V.Narasimha Rao, Indian Prime Minister paid an official visit to Uzbekistan in May 1993. Agreements were signed on trade and economic cooperation. An Indo-Uzbek Treaty on the Principles of Inter-state Relations and Cooperation was also signed during the visit. Indian Prime Minister announced the setting up of an “India Chair” at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent, opening of an Indian Cultural Centre in Tashkent, a credit of US$ 10 millions for joint ventures, project exports and purchase of capital goods from India and donation of equipment for receiving Doordarshan programmes for telecast on Uzbek Television.
• H.E. Mr. I.A.Karimov, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan paid his first ceremonial visit to India in January 1994. He was awarded an honorary degree by JNU and met Indian businessmen. During the visit agreements were signed on cooperation in economic and cultural matters, telecommunications and postal matters, and establishment of Indian Cultural Centre at Tashkent. In addition, the instruments of ratification of the Indo-Uzbek treaty on Principles of Inter-State Relations and Cooperation were exchanged.
• H.E. Mr. I.A.Karimov, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan visited India from 1-3 May 2000, on his second state visit. Nine agreements, including the Joint Declaration on Principles of Relations between the two countries, an Extradition Treaty and an agreement for a Credit Line from India for US$ 10 million were signed.
• H.E. Mr. I.A.Karimov, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan visited India from 4-6 April 2005. He was accompanied by the Uzbek First Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education and the and Minister of Defence besides Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy of the Senate of Uzbekistan. During the visit, he had meetings with President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Raksha Mantri, External Affairs Minister, Commerce & Industry Minister. Twelve agreements/MoUs were signed. Four of them at the governmental level which are for cooperation in i) military and military-technical areas, ii) education, iii) culture and sports and iv) small and private entrepreneurship. Eight MoUs were signed between Indian and Uzbek institutions and companies in IT, banking, tourism and education.
• H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India paid a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan from April 25 to April 26, 2006. During this visit, India and Uzbekistan signed seven agreements in the fields of energy, business, education, mineral prospecting and stepping up the joint fight against international terrorism, religious extremism and drug trafficking. The Jawaharlal Nehru Information Technology Centre in Tashkent was inaugurated by the Indian PM.

• Other important visits in recent times include Indian External Affairs Minister - May 1999 and Nov. 2003, Indian Minister of State (EA)- Sept. 2001 and Oct. 2004, Uzbek Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education – Jan. 2003, Uzbek Foreign Minister - Feb. 2003 and Oct. 2004, Uzbek Deputy Defence Minister – April-May 2003, Indian Minister of State (Commerce & Industry) – Jan. and September 2005, Speaker of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan – November 2005 and Indian Minister of State (Textiles) – October 2006. “Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan – August 2008”, “Uzbek Minister of Economy – September 2008”
  
  Commercial and Economic Relations
   

• Trade relations between India and Uzbekistan are governed by the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation, signed in May 1993. It contains normal features of trade agreements, such as mutual MFN treatment, promotion of economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation, including in the field of training of personnel, active participation of small and medium sized enterprises in bilateral economic cooperation, and counter-trade, etc. India and Uzbekistan also signed an Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation in 1993 and yet another one for Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection in May 1999. The Inter-governmental Commission has met six times.
• According to figures published by the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan Imports from and Exports to India during 1997-2007 are given below:
   

As per trade statistics, pharmaceuticals have traditionally been the largest single item of Indian exports to Uzbekistan. Other items include tea, machinery, packaging material, plastic items, garments, knitwear, surgical items, and consumer goods. Uzbekistan’s exports to India include aircrafts and supply of machinery and services (which reflect the remittances of Uzbekistan Airways from India of its revenue from both passenger and cargo services). Other items of Uzbek exports include cotton, raw silk, raw wool, non-ferrous metals, agricultural produce etc.

The Eighth Session of the Uzbek-Indian Intergovernmental Commission (IC) was held in Delhi where prospects for further expansion and deepening of business collaboration between Uzbekistan and India were discussed.

The Indian Mini-Technologies for Small Businesses – India Minitech – 2008 exhibition held in Tashkent on July In sum, 331 contracts were signed in the framework of the exhibition that lasted for almost a week. About 50 Indian companies presented their services and products at the exhibition.

Uzbek-Indian cooperation

Uzbekistan and India enjoy centuries-long relations which have always been based on the feelings of friendship and mutual respect. The two countries share common values such as secularism, tolerance and strong opposition to the forces of fundamentalism and terrorism. India was among the first countries to recognize independence of Uzbekistan.

Cooperation between the two countries spans may areas such as economic and commercial, cultural, education and technical training in diverse disciplines, information technology, science and technology, agriculture and civil aviation etc. This cooperation is underpinned by as many as forty two agreements.

For over the years of Uzbekistan’s independence the Indo-Uzbek relations have yet strengthened and gained new momentum in all spheres of interaction.

Political cooperation. So far the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited India for four times. While in 1993 the then Prime Minister of India Narasimha Rao and in 2006 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Uzbekistan.

The last high level visit took place in October 2009, when the Minister of External Affairs of India S.M. Krishna visited Tashkent. 

During his stay Mr. Krishna met with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov and discussed the ways of further enhancing and widening mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries.

On 16-18 March, 2010 the delegation led by the Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs of India Ms. Latha Reddy visited Uzbekistan to participate in foreign office political consultations between the two countries.

During the meeting the sides reviewed all gamut of bilateral cooperation and discussed a wide-range of issues with regard to giving new impetus to mutually beneficial ties of two countries.

During the visit the Indian delegation called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov.

Economic cooperation. Uzbekistan and India have also been developing trade and economic cooperation quite successfully. Despite global financial and economic crisis the countries have managed to increase bilateral trade which in 2009 totaled USD 124.9 million against USD 79.4 million in 2008. At the same time the countries realize that there is significant untapped potential between them for expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation.

The main items of Uzbekistan’s exports to India include services (mainly air cargo and passenger transportation), non-ferrous metals, machinery, silver, raw cotton & silk, etc. India's exports to Uzbekistan include drugs, pharmaceuticals, paper, wood products, machinery, garments & fabrics, tea, plastic items, chemicals, surgical items and consumer goods.

Seventeen Indian firms and companies were accredited with the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan as of January 2010. All of them operate in the sphere of pharmaceutics. At the same time 53 firms and companies in Uzbekistan were established with participation of Indian investments, of which 11 have 100% foreign capital.

The companies with Indian investments operate in the sphere of consumer goods production, leather, agricultural, pharmaceutical, textile and building materials production, tourism, retail and wholesale trade.

Cultural and educational cooperation between two countries has also been developing for the recent years. Uzbekistan became an ITEC partner country in 1993. Annually 120 professionals from different sectors enhance their skills through ITEC program of the Indian Government. Besides, Uzbek students are granted scholarships of ICCR which allow them study at the Indian institutes of higher education.

In October 1996 the India Chair at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy at Tashkent was inaugurated.

In April, 2006 during the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to Uzbekistan the India-Uzbekistan Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Information Technology was esta­blished in Tashkent.

On 18 March, 2010 the Indian delegation led by the Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs of India Ms. Latha Reddy who participated in foreign office political consultations between the two countries visited the Jawaharlal Nehru Center of Information Technologies at Tashkent University of Information Technologies. The delegation was briefed about the activities of the Center and its teaching programs. At the meeting with the University management the sides elaborated on how to enhance the qualification of the Center’s teachers and its training system.

Indian and Uzbek experts, scholars and scientists participate in various seminars and conferences which take place in both countries and discuss different issues of politics, economy, healthcare,  education, culture etc.

     In 1995 the Indian Cultural Centre was established in Tashkent. In 2005 it was renamed as Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture. It is sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and run by the Indian Embassy. It is one of the most active foreign cultural Centres operating in Uzbekistan.

The Activities of Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture include implementation of official cultural exchange programmes,  teaching activities, special cultural events, lectures and get togethers, popularization of Hindi and other Indian languages, strengthening Indo-Uzbek friendship and understanding, administering Government of India scholarship programmes, dissemination of information about India, its way of life and culture.

Cultural cooperation of two countries also includes the visits of various cultural groups which participate in festivals and cultural functions in two countries. For instance, Indian singers and dancers traditionally participate in Sharq Taronalari music festival which takes place every two years in Samarkand - one of the most beautiful and  ancient cities of Uzbekistan.

At the same time the Uzbek cultural groups usually visit India and perform in different cities of the country. These visits are organized with kind support of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The last time it was “Sabo” dancing group which visited India in September 2009 during the Festival of Uzbek Culture in India. The group performed in several cities of India including Lucknow, Bangalore and of course New Delhi.

          Indo-Uzbek cooperation in the sphere of tourism is developing at rapid paces. Upon the results of 2009 the number of Indian tourists traveling to Uzbekistan grew 2.5 times and still growing. This cooperation also includes movie tourism with Uzbek and Indian filmmakers developing ties between movie industries of two countries.

S&T Relations and Cooperation in other sectors: In terms of an Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation (1993) an Indo-Uzbek Centre for Promotion of Scientific and Technological cooperation was established in Tashkent in 1995. A work plan for S&T cooperation was signed in 1998 and again for the period 2004-06 was signed in March 2004. MoU for cooperation in field of agriculture cooperation signed in 2000 under which a Work Plan for 2004 has been signed and has been extended upto 31st December 2005.

Chairs in Universities in Uzbekistan: India Chair at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy at Tashkent since 1st October 1996.

ITEC Assistance and Programmes: Uzbekistan became an ITEC partner country in the year 1993, when a total of 49 Uzbek nominees attended various training courses in India. Since 1993, Uzbekistan’s ITEC participation has gone up tremendously. In 2002-2003, 104 and in 2003-2004, 109 candidates have availed of ITEC training. In 2004-05, 100 slots have been allocated, 120 approved by the Ministry of External Affairs of India, out of which 107 have already been availed till February 2005.

IT Centre in Tashkent: The Uzbek-Indian IT Centre in Tashkent was established on April 2006.

Cultural Troupers-Incoming & Outgoing over last few years: In 2003, under the Indo-Uzbek Cultural Exchange Programme, two exhibitions were organized in Tashkent – (a) An Exhibition of Indian musical instruments and (b) An Exhibition of Madhubani Paintings. Two Indian musical groups visited Tashkent and presented concerts. In return, two cultural Groups from Uzbekistan visited India. A festival of Indian Culture was organized in Tashkent in August-September 2004. One Indian musical group participated in the International Festival “Sharq Taronalari” in Samarkand in August 2005. “Sogdiana” Uzbek Chamber Orchestra presented in New Delhi, Jaipur and Lukhnow performances in November-December 2006. At the same time Raj Kapur’s Family members visited Tashkent, Samarkand and Namangan and presented the concert programmes.

The “Sabo” National Dance Group visited India in December 2007 and June 2008. During the tours the group has performed its programs in New Delhi, Lucknaw, Jaipur, and Srinagar.

Important streets, public places named after Indian leaders: There are streets named after Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent.

Air Links with India/Convenient Travel Routes: Uzbekistan Airways operates three flights to and from Delhi and six flights to and from Amritsar a week.