Remarks by Ambassador at Inauguration Ceremony of Polyclinic & Gifting of two BHISHM Cubes
University of Military Security and Defense; August 26, 2026
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.
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