India and Uzbekistan Discuss Bilateral Ties and Trade Implementation during Baku Meet

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Uzbek counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov, met in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss key issues on their bilateral agenda. During the meeting, both ministers emphasized the need for the timely and effective implementation of agreements reached at the highest level between India and Uzbekistan.

Jaishankar was in Baku for a day-long visit to review bilateral relations. He also met with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and held talks with Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov focusing on trade, investment, energy, tourism, and connectivity.

India-Uzbekistan relations have experienced multiple high-level exchanges. In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uzbekistan, where he was conferred the Oliy Darajali Do'stlik Order, the country's highest honor for foreign leaders. During that visit, New Delhi and Tashkent upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership with a target of USD 5 billion in bilateral trade.

The two nations also signed 11 agreements during the Prime Minister's visit to boost cooperation in sectors including mining and tourism, alongside establishing a framework for the long-term supply of uranium from Uzbekistan to India.

In addition to his meeting with the Uzbek foreign minister, Jaishankar visited the historic Ateshgah fire temple near Baku, noting its significance as a symbol of historical and cultural connection between the people of India and the region. The complex features walls with inscriptions in Sanskrit and Gurmukhi script, dating back to the period when it was used by Hindu and Sikh merchants from the Indian subcontinent.

During his discussions with Azerbaijani officials, Jaishankar reviewed economic cooperation, trade, investment, and energy initiatives. Both sides agreed to coordinate more closely on connectivity, specifically highlighting the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200 km multi-modal freight network linking India with Iran, the Caspian region, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe. Jaishankar also thanked Azerbaijan for assisting in the evacuation of Indian nationals and students from Iran during regional conflicts earlier in the year.

"Strengthening bilateral economic ties and improving regional connectivity through frameworks like the International North-South Transport Corridor create a stable environment for cross-border business and trade expansion. For businesses looking at international markets, monitoring these strategic partnerships and government-level agreements is essential for identifying long-term opportunities in sectors such as energy, mining, and logistics." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes