11 MoUs and Agreements Signed During PM Modi's State Visit to Uzbekistan

India and Uzbekistan signed 11 key MoUs and agreements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the Central Asian nation on August 29-30, covering sectors ranging from culture and healthcare to mining and digital payments. The visit, held at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, also saw both countries agree to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

List of Signed MoUs and Agreements Between India and Uzbekistan

1. Cultural Exchange Programme (2026-30): Signed to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties between the two nations over the next four years.
2. Letter of Intent on Buddhist Heritage Sites: Aimed at conserving and restoring the ancient Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa located in Termez, Uzbekistan.
3. Archival Cooperation MoU: Signed between India's National Archives and Uzbekistan's Uzarchive to collaborate on preserving and managing archival records.
4. Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine MoU: Establishes cooperation between the two countries in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine, opening avenues for healthcare knowledge exchange.
5. Mining and Geology MoU: Signed between India's Ministry of Mines and Uzbekistan's Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology to expand cooperation in geology and mineral resources.
6. Tourism Partnership Programme (2026-28): An agreement between the tourism authorities of both countries to boost tourist exchange and destination promotion over the next two years.
7. Diplomatic Training MoU: Signed between India's Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and Uzbekistan's Diplomatic Academy to build capacity in foreign service training.
8. Economic and Financial Dialogue MoU: An agreement between the finance ministries of both countries to establish a structured dialogue on economic and financial matters.
9. Environmental Protection Agreement: Signed between India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Uzbekistan's National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change to cooperate on environmental issues.
10. Higher Education and Scientific Research MoU: Aimed at deepening academic collaboration and joint research initiatives between institutions of both countries.
11. Gujarat-Samarkand Cooperation Agreement: A sub-national agreement establishing partnership relations between the Indian state of Gujarat and Uzbekistan's Samarkand region.

Key Highlights of Narendra Modi's State Visit to Uzbekistan

Beyond the formal MoUs, India announced a USD 1 million grant to support afforestation in the Aral Sea region as part of environmental rehabilitation efforts. 

A new Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for Hindi Language was introduced, offering 100 scholarships to Uzbek students, while an ICCR Sanskrit Chair will be set up at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies to strengthen academic and cultural links.

On the digital front, NPCI International Payments Ltd and Uzbekistan's National Interbank Processing Centre reached a commercial agreement allowing Indian UPI apps to scan Uzbekistan's national UZQR codes for merchant payments, making transactions easier for Indian travellers and businesses.