India and Uzbekistan will establish a long-term arrangement for uranium supplies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday after meeting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, in a move expected to support India's nuclear energy plans.
"We will also establish a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium," Modi said, describing it as one of the key outcomes of his talks with Mirziyoyev.
The two countries are also finalising three sister-city and sister-state agreements. Modi called for clear implementation roadmaps to ensure the partnerships produce results rather than remaining limited to signed agreements.
Urban development was another area of discussion, with Uzbekistan developing New Tashkent as a new city. Modi suggested that Uzbekistan study Gujarat's GIFT City model and offered to host an Uzbek delegation to examine its planning, technology and implementation.
Mirziyoyev said bilateral trade crossed $1 billion last year for the first time. He also said the number of joint ventures between the two countries had increased sevenfold in recent years.
Connectivity between the countries has expanded, with 14 direct flights operating each week, according to Mirziyoyev.
The two sides also discussed cultural ties, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Indian Studies. Yoga has gained popularity in Uzbekistan, which has had a national Yoga Federation since 2018.
Uzbekistan is also set to remove visa requirements for Indian citizens travelling for stays of up to 30 days, a move Mirziyoyev said would promote tourism, business travel and people-to-people contact.
India and Uzbekistan already cooperate in areas including trade, investment, education, pharmaceuticals, IT and culture. The uranium agreement adds nuclear energy to an expanding bilateral partnership.
Modi's visit to Tashkent concludes on August 30, after which he will travel to Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.