India-Uzbekistan signs 17 pacts, discuss regional peace and security
On Monday, October 1, 2018, India and Uzbekistan signed 17 pacts including defence education, defence industry cooperation, exploration of space for peace programme and cooperation in the field of law and justice, during two day visit of President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to India on September 30 and October 1.
Uzbekistan is the biggest and well equipped military power of central Asia region and also a member country of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Defence ministers of both countries agreed to enhance and strengthen defence cooperation, joint military education and defence industry cooperation and agreed to have joint military training exercises.
Both countries signed agreements to boost cooperation in area of law and justice, for cooperation between the National Security Councils of both countries, cooperation in exploration and peaceful use of space, cooperation in the fields of agriculture and pharmaceutical industry.
Hon’ble Minister @drharshvardhan & Uzbekistan’s Minister of Innovation Development, Dr Ibrohim Abdurakhmanov, signed an agreement to facilitate exchange of scientific information, personnel, joint R&D projects, seminars & workshops in a range of topical areas of S&T. pic.twitter.com/eqLrUlhUbu
— DSTIndia (@IndiaDST) October 2, 2018
India provided the line of credit of $200 million for the low cost housing for social infrastructure of Uzbekistan, whereas Uzbekistan proposed a credit line of worth $800 million and buyers credit by Exim bank. Both countries committed to bring the trade between both the countries to $1 billion by 2020.
PM Modi said, “We have agreed to enhance our trade and investment relations. We have set a bilateral trade target $1 billion by 2020. We have also decided to start negotiations on the Preferential Trade Agreement”.
Prime minister of India, Narendra Modi appreciated Uzbekistan’s efforts for peace and stability in the region and said that India will provide all possible cooperation in this regard. Both leaders discussed the threats of terrorism to the regional peace and security, PM Modi said that both countries will be in regular contact for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
PM Modi said, “Stable, democratic and inclusive and prosperous Afghanistan is in the best interests of our entire region. I am happy that in this context, we have decided to maintain regular contact between our two countries”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi First met the President of Uzbekistan in 2015 when he visited Uzbekistan.
