Indian investments in Uzbekistan surge by 135% in 2025 – Ambassador

The Indian Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Smita Pant, shared these figures during a press conference in Tashkent on February 25. According to the diplomat, this investment momentum was a defining feature of the past year. As of early 2026, the number of enterprises operating in Uzbekistan with Indian capital has grown to 375.

Indian businesses are demonstrating the strongest interest in several strategic sectors, including pharmaceuticals and healthcare, mechanical engineering, agriculture, mining industry and infrastructure development projects.

Ambassador Pant emphasized that the strengthening economic ties are anchored by a consistent political dialogue between the two nations. A pivotal moment occurred in September 2025, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.

The partnership is also rapidly expanding into the digital realm. In 2025, the joint working group on digital technologies convened to discuss collaborative projects in Information Technology (IT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity. More recently, in February 2026, an Uzbek delegation participated in the international AI summit held in New Delhi.

Beyond trade and technology, the bilateral relationship covers critical areas of security and social welfare:

• Defense: Cooperation continues through specialized working groups and the conduct of joint military exercises.
• Healthcare: Indian medical professionals recently conducted over 200 outpatient consultations in Tashkent, providing expert care in oncology, hepatology, nephrology, orthopedics, and liver transplantation.
• Education: Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, 1,144 Uzbek citizens have received training in India over the last five years.

Notably, the Ambassador pointed out a positive shift in the program's demographics; over 40% of the participants selected in the last two years have been women. The program focuses on professional exchanges in high-tech fields such as AI and pharmaceuticals.

The head of the diplomatic mission concluded that the systematic development of bilateral relations and the rapid growth of investments confirm a transition toward much deeper economic integration between India and Uzbekistan.