Tashkent/New Delhi: India and Uzbekistan have taken a major step towards deepening their economic and strategic partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day state visit to Uzbekistan resulting in 11 agreements and MoUs, a new push for digital payments through UPI, and the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The agreements were signed during Modi’s August 29–30 visit and cover a wide range of areas, including culture, education, tourism, mining, traditional medicine, environment, finance and scientific research.
UPI set to operate in Uzbekistan
One of the most significant outcomes is the move to enable Indian UPI applications to make merchant payments in Uzbekistan.
According to the official list of outcomes, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC) have entered into a commercial arrangement under which UPI apps used by Indians will be able to scan Uzbekistan’s national UZQR codes for merchant payments.
India and Uzbekistan have elevated their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announcing a major framework for long-term Uranium supplies, critical mineral mining cooperation, and the rollout of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). pic.twitter.com/NcVSF85yLv
— Vyom Pallav 🇮🇳 (@VyomPallav) August 30, 2026
The development is expected to make payments easier for Indian tourists and visitors in Uzbekistan, while also strengthening cooperation in digital public infrastructure. Discussions between Indian and Uzbek authorities on integrating UPI with local payment systems had been underway for some time.
The move comes as UPI completes a decade and expands its international footprint. The Indian government said in August that UPI was already operational in 11 countries, highlighting its growing role as a cross-border digital payments platform.
11 agreements cover wide-ranging sectors
The 11 agreements signed during Modi’s visit include cooperation in:
- Cultural exchanges for 2026–30
- Conservation and restoration of the ancient Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa
- Archival cooperation
- Ayurveda and traditional medicine
- Geology and mineral resources
- Tourism cooperation for 2026–28
- Training and cooperation between the two countries’ diplomatic institutions
- Economic and financial dialogue
- Environmental protection
- Higher education and scientific research
- Partnership between Gujarat and Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region.
The agreements are part of a broader effort to translate the longstanding civilisational and political relationship into practical cooperation across the economy, technology, education and people-to-people ties.
Trade target raised to $5 billion
The two countries have also set an ambitious target of increasing annual bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030. Current trade is slightly above $1 billion, according to reports based on official discussions.
The leaders discussed expanding cooperation in infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, critical minerals, defence, education, tourism and space.
Uranium supply emerges as strategic priority
Energy cooperation was another important component of the visit. India and Uzbekistan agreed to establish a long-term arrangement for uranium supplies from Uzbekistan to India, strengthening cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector.
Critical minerals and mining were also highlighted as strategic areas, reflecting India’s growing requirement for reliable supplies of minerals crucial to advanced manufacturing, clean energy and emerging technologies.
Ties upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
In a major diplomatic decision, India and Uzbekistan agreed to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The upgrade signals a broader and deeper engagement between the two countries, extending beyond traditional diplomatic and economic cooperation into digital technology, energy security, critical minerals, education, healthcare, culture and regional connectivity.
Modi also announced a $1 million Indian grant for environmental rehabilitation in Uzbekistan’s Aral Sea region. The initiative links Uzbekistan’s Yashil Makon campaign with India’s Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam environmental drive.
A new phase in India-Uzbekistan relations
The outcome of Modi’s visit indicates that India-Uzbekistan ties are moving towards a more technology-driven and economically strategic partnership. The planned introduction of UPI, the $5-billion trade ambition, long-term uranium cooperation and agreements spanning education, minerals, tourism and healthcare collectively give the relationship a significantly broader economic dimension.
For India, the UPI arrangement also represents another step in taking its digital public infrastructure beyond its borders, while for Uzbekistan it offers an opportunity to make payments more convenient for Indian visitors and deepen cooperation with India’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
