PM Modi Begins 2-Nation Central Asia Visit to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, seeking to deepen India's strategic engagement with Central Asia and strengthen cooperation in trade, defence, energy, connectivity and education.

Modi will first travel to Tashkent on August 29-30 for a state visit at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He will then travel to Bishkek to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit from August 31 to September 1. The official itinerary was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The visit is Modi's fourth trip to Uzbekistan and comes as New Delhi seeks to expand its economic, security and connectivity partnerships across Central Asia.

Modi Begins Uzbekistan Visit

The first leg of the tour will focus on India's bilateral relationship with Uzbekistan.

During his stay in Tashkent, Modi will hold delegation-level talks with President Mirziyoyev to review the strategic partnership and set priorities for future cooperation.

According to the MEA, discussions will cover trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties. The leaders will also exchange views on their long-term development goals, including India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Uzbekistan's Uzbekistan-2030 strategy.

The Uzbek presidency said the talks will also cover cooperation in areas including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, mechanical engineering, geology and the chemical industry. A package of bilateral agreements is expected to be signed following the discussions.

Trade Investment In Focus

Economic cooperation is expected to be one of the central themes of Modi's Tashkent visit.

India and Uzbekistan are looking to expand trade, investment and business-to-business engagement while identifying new sectors for cooperation.

Critical minerals are also gaining importance as India seeks to diversify supply chains for resources essential to electronics, clean-energy technologies and strategic industries. Uzbekistan has been developing its rare-earth and critical-mineral sector, creating potential areas for greater cooperation.

Healthcare and pharmaceuticals are other established areas where both countries are looking to expand cooperation.

Defence Digital Connectivity

Defence cooperation will also feature in the discussions between Modi and Mirziyoyev.

The two countries have developed growing security ties, including cooperation against terrorism and other transnational threats. Discussions are also expected to cover technology, digital connectivity and possible cooperation in emerging sectors.

Digital connectivity could become particularly important because India and Central Asian countries face geographical and logistical challenges in expanding direct physical connectivity.

The broader objective is to create stronger economic and strategic links between India and the resource-rich Central Asian region.

Shastri Memorial Visit

Modi is also expected to visit the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial in Tashkent and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies during his Uzbekistan visit.

The engagements add a cultural and historical dimension to the bilateral programme.

India and Uzbekistan have maintained close historical links, while people-to-people ties have expanded in recent years. More than 16,000 Indian students are currently studying in Uzbekistan, and four Indian university campuses have been established in the country, according to recent assessments of bilateral relations.

Modi Heads To Bishkek

After completing his Uzbekistan engagements, Modi will travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the 26th SCO Summit.

The summit will be held from August 31 to September 1 and marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017.

At the summit, Modi is expected to highlight India's priorities of Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.

Regional security, economic cooperation and connectivity are expected to feature prominently as SCO leaders discuss developments affecting the wider Eurasian region.

Modi-Putin Meeting Scheduled

One of the closely watched engagements during the Bishkek visit will be Modi's scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.

The Indian government has confirmed that the two leaders are scheduled to meet during the summit.

The meeting is significant for India-Russia relations, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing discussions on defence cooperation, energy and wider geopolitical developments.

Modi is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with other SCO leaders during the summit, depending on schedules and availability.

SCO And World Nomad Games

Modi will also attend the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games in Bishkek.

The event celebrates the cultural heritage and traditional sporting traditions of Central Asia and provides another opportunity for India to strengthen people-to-people engagement with the region.

His participation at the event complements the strategic discussions taking place during the SCO summit.

Why Central Asia Matters

The visit comes as India seeks to strengthen its presence in Central Asia, a region important for security, energy, critical minerals, trade and connectivity.

India's engagement with the five Central Asian republics has expanded substantially over the past decade. New Delhi has increasingly viewed the region as an important partner in its broader Eurasian strategy.

The geographical challenge remains significant because India lacks a direct land corridor to Central Asia. This makes connectivity initiatives and partnerships with regional countries particularly important.

Modi's latest tour therefore combines bilateral diplomacy with multilateral engagement, giving India an opportunity to advance its interests with Uzbekistan while simultaneously engaging major powers and regional partners through the SCO.