Month: September 2026

1. It was when I and Deputy Chairman, Tourism Committee along with his team sat at a lovely restaurant in Tashkent, we started talking about vegan food. Mr. Shakhboz Saidkhanov, Director of the National PR Centre under Tourism Committee said he wanted more Indians to visit Uzbekistan and I happily informed him that several Indians especially the younger generation were increasingly embracing vegan choices and Indians visiting Uzbekistan were often seeking details on restaurants serving vegetarian / vegan food. It was that time around two months back, when the idea of organizing a vegan food festival was born. 2. The world food choices are changing rapidly. The vegan food market is over 22 billion USD and is growing at a rate of 10-12 percent. This is phenomenal. In India, the scale is massive and similar trend is also seen in other parts of the world. Healthier options such as almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, vegan butter, and plant-based cream are no longer speciality products— they are becoming part of everyday life for millions of people. Now what if we blend the growing demand for vegan food with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda using local ingredients. The outcome is food which is delectable, healthy and also enjoyable. Uzbekistan with its pristine beauty and hospitality has attracted people from all over the world. It has an amazing culinary spread to offer. Who would not fall in love with Ikra – Baklajan simmered in tomato curry or honim. And let’s not forget the achichuk and warm non. But is that all for a vegan? Our chefs and experts who have curated the event today would say no with a capital N. 3. Let me make a prediction here. With the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, Tashkent has the potential to become the vegan capital of the region. Our aim is to simply highlight that there are enough food choices for everyone, to use local ingredients and to bring in the healing touch of Ayurveda which is not new to the Uzbeks. Mr. Ibn Sina in his book “Canon of Medicine” had written about the Indian traditional system of healing. 4. Food is one of the most powerful expressions of culture. It brings people together, tells the story of our traditions, and creates lasting connections. India and Uzbekistan have shared culinary traditions for centuries. Whether it is pulao or pilaf, samosa or samsa, naan or non; our cuisines remind us of the close age old links between our people. Today, we not only celebrate these shared traditions but will also talk about an already familiar lifestyle. Both Ibn Sina and Ayurveda tell that our health begins with the food we eat. Also, friends, as they say in Uzbekistan "Dasturxon – do'stlik ramzi", the dining table is a symbol of friendship. Today’s event is also dedicated to our friendship. By the way, I have in last two years seen vegetarian and vegan space expand in Uzbekistan particularly Tashkent. The number of “my go to” places for a vegan decaf cappuccino in the morning have immensely grown in the last 2 years. 5. Uzbekistan has one of the richest culinary traditions in Central Asia and is blessed with outstanding agricultural products be it almonds, walnuts, fruits, vegetables, grains or legumes. We have also had conversations with some Indian investors, many of whom see great potential in Uzbekistan's food-processing sector. Demand for plant-based products continues to grow across the world and with its excellent agricultural resources, talented people, and strategic location, Uzbekistan has every opportunity to become not just a consumer, but a leading regional producer and supplier of high-quality plant-based foods. Special thanks to Ambassador Timothy Smart and his wife Ms. Veronica with whom I share passion for vegetarian food. My very very special thanks to the curator of the event Dr Nikhila, an Ayurveda expert and a woman of tremendous talent and grace, to the Tourism Committee and Farovon Hotel, to the Indian and Uzbek chefs and most importantly to all of you. 6. Let’s enjoy the spread of healthy delicacies today. Thank you.

Major General Farhodjon Shermatov, Commandant of the University of Military Security and Defense Distinguished officers, faculty members and dear friends, It is a great honour and pleasure to be here today for the inauguration of the Military Medical Polyclinic at the University of Military Security and Defense of Uzbekistan, and for the gifting of the Arogya Maitri BHISHM Cubes to the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan. I would like to begin by conveying my sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Defense and the University for their continued support and cooperation. India and Uzbekistan share a relationship based on deep historical and civilisational ties, mutual respect and trust. Our defence partnership is an important pillar of this close relationship. Today’s events are a reflection of India's commitment to strengthening this partnership in a practical and meaningful manner. The project for restoration and provisioning of medical equipment for this Polyclinic was initiated in September 2023 and provides 49 medical equipment and systems for the Polyclinic. These include an ambulance, portable X-ray machine, ultrasound equipment, surgical instruments, microscope, clinical chemistry and hematology analyzers, urine analysis equipment, a portable ultrasound scanner, ENT equipment and several physiotherapy and other medical systems. This modern equipment will strengthen the ability of the Polyclinic to provide quality medical care to cadets, instructors and personnel of the University. It is our hope that this facility will contribute to the health and well-being of those who are preparing to serve and lead the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan. I am also particularly pleased to mark today the gifting of two Aarogya Maitri BHISHM Cubes to the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan. The BHISHM Cube is a state-of-the-art, portable medical unit designed for rapid deployment during emergencies and disasters. It contains essential medicines, medical consumables and medical equipment for treating trauma and other medical emergencies during the critical Golden Hour and in the first days following an incident. The system is modular, palletised and easy to transport and set up. It can be moved by air, land or sea and can support medical teams in remote and difficult locations. For the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan, these cubes can be especially useful in strengthening medical preparedness and emergency healthcare support for personnel deployed in military districts, including areas close to the borders. The equipment arrived in Uzbekistan on an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. These BHISHM Cubes are not simply medical equipment. They represent India's belief that our defence cooperation should directly contribute to the safety, preparedness and well-being of our armed forces. Excellency, India and Uzbekistan have made steady progress in defence cooperation in recent years. Our Joint Working Group on Defence, military training programmes and Exercise Dustlik have continued to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between our armed forces. The strength of this relationship can be gauged by the fact that more than 915 personnel of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan have benefited from various training activities conducted by the Indian Armed Forces by way of training exchanges, ITEC Courses and military personnel trained by the Indian Military Training Team deployed at this university. The University of Military Security and Defense holds a special place in our bilateral defence cooperation. Over the years, our engagement with this premier institution has evolved into a strong and trusted partnership. Today’s inauguration of the Military Medical Polyclinic marks another major capacity-building initiative undertaken by India at this University. It follows the establishment of the state-of-the-art IT Laboratory by India’s Chief of Army Staff in April 2024 and our continued support for training and professional development at the institution. These initiatives reflect India's commitment to strengthening the development of future military leadership of Uzbekistan. We are proud that our partnership is contributing not only to infrastructure and equipment, but also to knowledge, skills and human resource development. Today's initiatives add an important new dimension to this cooperation in the field of military medicine, emergency response and healthcare capacity building. We remain committed to supporting the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan in areas where our experience, technology and capabilities can be of value. I am confident that the facilities and equipment inaugurated today will serve our Uzbek friends well and will further deepen the bonds of friendship between our two countries and our two armed forces. I once again thank all the officers and personnel involved in these projects for their continued cooperation. May India-Uzbekistan friendship continue to grow from strength to strength. Thank you. Rahmat.