Author: Harsha

Remarks by Ambassador during Annual Press Meet 2026

Hotel Hyatt Regency, Tashkent; February 25, 2026 

My dear media friends and Embassy colleagues,

Good evening – Hayirli kech, Salam Walekum, Namaste!

1. I am pleased to welcome you all to the Annual Press Meet of the Embassy.  It has become one of our important events which provides an opportunity to engage and interact with the vibrant media community in Tashkent. I convey my best wishes to you all on the holy month of Ramadan and thank you all for taking time. I also extend my heartfelt appreciation to each one of you for the cooperation and support you have provided to the Embassy in fostering closer ties between our two countries.  Uzbekistan’s media landscape is dynamic, energetic and continues to expand.
2. I thought, I should speak for a few minutes before we take up Q & A.

3. Exchanges between the Leadership

Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble President Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev met in September on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China.  In August 2025, they held a telephone conversation to review progress in key areas of bilateral cooperation. You would notice that the two leaders have met practically every year since 2018 except during the period of Covid. Both leaders met in 2018, 2019, in 2022 (Samarkand), in 2023 (UAE), in 2024 (Kazan) and then again in 2025 (Tianjin). They also held a virtual Summit in 2020. This demonstrates that our relationship has received attention from the highest level.

4. Meetings between Foreign Ministers

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Bakhtiyor Saidov visited India in June 2025 to participate at the 4^th India-Central Asia Dialogue. During the visit, he held bilateral meeting with Dr. S. Jaishankar.  He also called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Thereafter, Foreign Ministers of both the countries held a telephonic conversation in January 2026. Both Ministers again met on the sidelines of the Critical Minerals Ministerial in February 2026 in Washington DC and held discussions on developments in the region.

5. 150^th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly

A 25-member Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla participated at the 150^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Tashkent in April 2025. He also met Hon’ble President Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Senate Chairperson Ms. Tanzila Narbayeva and Legislative Chamber Speaker Mr. Nuriddin Ismoilov.

6. Defence and Security Cooperation

Both sides held 5^th Joint Working Group meeting on Defence in India in April 2025 and next meeting (6^th) is likely to be held shortly.

Sixth edition of the flagship military exercise ‘Dustlik’ was held in April 2025 in India. Both sides also held meeting on Counter Terrorism in Tashkent in September last year where both sides discussed cooperation in countering terrorism and radicalization.

India and Uzbekistan are syncretic cultures with strong civilizational connection and are bulwark against terror and radicalization.

7. Culture and Films

We appreciate Uzbek architecture, music, Lazgi dance form and cuisine.  Similoarly, there is appreciation for Indian art and dance in Uzbekistan. As you are aware, Embassy along with Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan organized the first edition of women-centric Film Festival in Tashkent in March 2025. Our cooperation in culture and cinema has led to strong people-to-people links. I am therefore pleased to inform that the second edition of our women-centric film festival is being organized from March 12-15, 2026 in Tashkent.  There will be screening of five films. All of you with families and friends are invited for the film screenings. We will have illustrious film personalities like Umesh Mehra attend the event.

Last year, Uzbek film “In Pursuit of Spring” (Bahorni Quvib), directed by Mr. Ayub Shahobiddinov, was screened at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa from November 20-28, 2025.  Earlier, Rano Shodiyeva had won best actress award in India.

The 11^th International Day of Yoga was celebrated in Tashkent in June 2025 in association with the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan. Hon’ble Sports Minister of Uzbekistan, Mr. Adkham Ikramov joined the event along with 2000 yoga enthusiasts to practice Yoga.

We along with Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan also held the 7^th International Conference on Yoga and first ever in Central Asia in Tashkent in September 2025, bringing together eminent Yoga experts from ten Eurasian countries including India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Armenia, Mongolia and Russia.  The earlier ones were held in New York, London, Seoul, Meinberg, Durban and New Delhi.

In the year 2025, Embassy facilitated two visits of media colleagues from Uzbekistan to India. A seven-member delegation of journalists and social media influencers from Uzbekistan visited Goa from March 19-26, 2025.

This was followed by a familiarization visit of 21 journalists from Central Asian countries to India in December 9-18, 2025 in which three journalists from Uzbekistan participated.

8. Trade & Economic Cooperation

India ranks among Uzbekistan’s top‑10 trading partners (9th rank), and bilateral trade has surged from roughly $500 million to about $1.3 billion in five years, after crossing the $1 billion mark earlier in the year.  Even with this three‑fold increase, the volume remains well below the untapped potential.  There are opportunities in pharmaceuticals, machinery, agriculture, metal, health, textiles, etc.  Connectivity has remained a hindrance. In September 2025, Iran, India and Uzbekistan held trilateral political consultations in Tehran, focusing on enhancing connectivity and the International North-South Transport Corridor.

Indian investment in Uzbekistan in 2025 has increased by 135% to reach USD 332 million.  The total investment has crossed USD 717 million.  I think we will cross the USD 1 billion mark.  Number of Indian enterprises with Indian capital have also increased to 375 as on January 1, 2026.

Last year, more than 200 Indian business delegates visited Uzbekistan and participated at Trade fairs in Uzbekistan including Textile Expo Autumn (CAITME 2025), UzFood, Agro-world, Mining Metals, Textile Expo Spring, PPP forum, Tashkent International Investment Forum, Beauty Uzbekistan/BeautyDerma, OGU, TransLogistics. Similarly, more than 100 Uzbek delegates visited India and participated at various trade fairs like UPITS, IndusFood, Plexconnect, Surajkund International Craft Mela, India-Central Asia Business Forum, 2^nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine e.tc. We also had standalone visits from Ministry of Coal, Federation of Indian Export Organizations, National Thermal Power Corporation and Chamber of Confederation of Indian Industry.

India-Central Asia Business Forum (ICABF) was held on June 5, 2025 in New Delhi jointly organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, on the sidelines of the India–Central Asia Dialogue. 09 Uzbek companies participated in the forum. The forum was addressed by External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar along with the Foreign Ministers of Central Asian nations.  On the sidelines of the ICABF, Uzbek business groups signed contracts worth USD 13 million with the Indian companies in the sectors including medical goods, medical equipment and textiles.

A meeting between Uz VC (National Venture Capital Fund) and Startup India was organized in December 2025 to discuss possibilities of investment and collaboration for mutual benefit.  Both sides agreed to prepare a joint roadmap on cooperation in startups identifying priority sectors of cooperation including capacity building programmes.

9. Development Cooperation

Our development cooperation continues to grow. I along with Ms. Ilmira Razikova, Director of the Allergological Centre inaugurated new reference lab at the Republican Scientific Specialized Allergological Centre in Tashkent. Medical camps were also organized in various cities of Uzbekistan.  Our doctors have continued to hold medical camps and have conducted more than 200 OPDs on oncology, hepatology, nephrology, orthopaedic, thoracic surgery, liver transplants at National Medical Centre in Tashkent.

A virtual meeting was held in January this year regarding cooperation in traditional medicine and ayurveda sector between India and Uzbekistan. I see immense potential here.

10. Digital Partnership

The 3^rd Meeting of the India–Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Digital Technologies was held in November 2025, where both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in information technology and advancing digital solutions in education, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The two countries will also co-host the inaugural meeting of the India–Central Asia Digital Partnership Forum.

India also organized AI Impact Summit in February 2026 in New Delhi. We were pleased to have a 10-member delegation headed by Mr. Bobur Batyrovich Khodjaev, Head of the Department for Financial Technologies, Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan participate in the Summit.

11. Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC)

In last five years, 1144 candidates have participated in the ITEC programme. Over 40% of selected participants in the past two years have been women, undertaking training across diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, information technology, data science, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals among others.

12. Consular and visa and the Indian Diaspora in Uzbekistan

In 2025, Uzbekistan welcomed the largest number of students from India, with over 16,000 students pursuing higher education. We are working closely with institutions on both sides to standardize education and enhance the overall learning experience so that Indian students get good clinical exposure. I am also glad to share that close to one lakh Indian tourists visited the country in 2025. At present, a total of 17 weekly flights operate from Tashkent to Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa, by Indigo, Uzairways and Centrum Air significantly enhancing connectivity between the two countries. Direct flights to Hyderabad and between Namangan – Delhi Sector are also expected to commence from April 2026The first-ever India–Uzbekistan Consular Dialogue was held in Tashkent in July 2025, during which both sides held comprehensive discussions on visa facilitation, consular cooperation, and security-related matters, with particular emphasis on the welfare of students, medical travellers, and tourists.

I feel that our partnership is much deeper than is known or acknowledged.  There are strong cultural and spiritual affinities. We have connections going back to centuries be it Buddhism, Sufism and as also evident by common words and culinary delights Samosa-Somsa, Naan-Non, Pulao-Palov. I would like to conclude my remarks by quoting famous lines of Gafur Gulom:

Aziz asrimizning aziz onlari, Aziz odamlardan so’raydi qadrin. Fursat g’animatdir, shoh satrlar-la Bezamoq chog’idir umr daftarin.

Thank you very much for your time and patience. Qata Rahmat.

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Remarks at Inauguration Ceremony of Indian Film Festival 2026
Hotel Hyatt Regency, Tashkent; March 12, 2026

1. Welcome to the 2nd edition of the Sashakt Nari – an Indian Film Festival dedicated to women, their resilience, grit and aspirations. Let me first thank Mr. Shukratulla Rizayev, Director of the Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan and Palace of National Cinematic Art for their incredible support. Mr. Umesh Mehra, the renowned Indian Film Maker is amongst us and needs no introduction in Uzbekistan. His film Ali Baba va Qirq Qaroqchi, a co-production between India and Uzbekistan could be actually referred to as a shared heritage. My heartfelt gratitude to all my women friends, Hon’ble Members of Parliament, friends from MOFA, representatives from the Ministry of Sports and Wrestling Federation of Uzbekistan, friends from the diplomatic community, representatives from the Committee of Women and Family Affairs, Business Association, film makers, artists and friends from the media for their presence and wonderful support.

2. India and Uzbekistan friendship is time tested. We have had continual exchanges of ideas, art and culture over centuries. Today, cinema has become one of the most powerful bridges connecting our people transcending language barriers and bringing together emotions and shared human experiences. As we talk on core issues relating to women, I recall the words of Erkin Vohidov who said, “Ayolga ta’zim Ayol dunyoning ko‘zgusi, Ayol qalbning eng nozik nidosi” – Woman is the mirror of the world, Woman is the finest voice of the heart. Zulfiya, one of the prominent female voices in Uzbek literature said, “Bahor keldi seni so‘roqlab, Salom aytib o‘tdi shamollar” – Spring has come, inquiring about you, greeting you, the winds have passed by.

3. Friends, last year we showcased movies challenging gender sensitivity and stereotypes, issues relating to single mother and her challenges, struggle of a para-athlete and her fight for recognition. This year we bring an equally diverse mix of movies on women fighting gender biases to become successful wrestlers, Dangal movie is based on real life. Dear Zindagi is about mental health and emotions that we often hesitate to talk about. Tanvi the Great is a story of a young women’s resilience, Tanu Weds Manu is a hilarious and entertaining story of a woman who does not fit in, does not confirm to stereotypical norms. I hope these movies will make us reflect, generate and encourage honest conversations on women, their rights, their needs and their sense of being. I do strongly feel that issues relating to women deserve our collective energies and joint efforts. In India, a country of 1.4 billion people where women constitute about half of our population, tremendous efforts are underway. Things have changed on the ground towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment. We still have more work to do. In Uzbekistan, as we celebrate the spirit of Women’s Day, I recall the words of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev who has referred to women as creators of Yangi Uzbekistan and has repeatedly emphasized their role in country’s development. I am happy that we will be having a panel discussion in which the experts would speak on how women can transform social narratives and perspectives through cinema. I also want to mention that India and Uzbekistan are exploring new avenues of cooperation between women entrepreneurs, women players including hockey, wrestling and football. Also wanted to inform that we have amongst us women representatives from the Ministry of Finance who will be visiting India for the Women Leadership Programme. Under our capacity building exchanges, over the last few years, 2700 Uzbek nationals have visited India and more than 40% of them have been women. Our efforts will continue.

Last but not the least. Belated wishes to all of you my dear friends on International Women’s Day.

Yana bir muhim narsa. Aziz do‘stlarim, barchangizni o‘tib ketgan bo‘lsa-da, Xalqaro xotin-qizlar kuni bilan tabriklayman.

Hindiston va O’zbekistaon do’stona aloqalari abadiy bo’lsin!

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Remarks by Ambassador at ITEC Day 2026

Hotel Hilton, Tashkent; March 6, 2026

1. It is an honour to stand before you today as we celebrate the 61^st Anniversary of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation program – ITEC. Since 1964, ITEC has been one of the cornerstones of India’s foreign policy, rooted in the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family. We view this partnership as a partnership of shared knowledge and mutual growth.
2. As we look at our bilateral relationship, the ITEC numbers tell a story of extraordinary momentum. Over the 30-year history of our partnership, more than 2,700 Uzbek professionals have participated in ITEC. However, the most striking statistic is this: over 1,100 of those candidates, nearly 43% of our historical total, were trained in just the last five years. This massive acceleration signals that India and Uzbekistan are not just partners; we are accelerating together into a new era of capacity building.

3. ITEC is uniquely designed for working professionals and government officials. When an ITEC scholar returns from India, they bring back expertise that is immediately applied to Uzbekistan’s home institutions.

4. People often ask: “Is ITEC keeping up with the times?” My answer is a resounding yes. While we continue to offer our world-class traditional courses in banking, finance, and management, we have pivoted sharply toward the future. In the last two years, Uzbek professionals have been training at prestigious institutes like IIT Kanpur in courses like Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Machine Learning, Digital Health, Robotics, Big Data, and Solar Energy. We are ensuring our cooperation is as modern as the new Uzbekistan itself.

5. I am particularly proud to highlight our progress in gender inclusivity. For the second year in a row, more than 40% of our participants have been women. This is not a coincidence; it is a consistent reflection of our shared “Empowered Woman” initiatives and commitment to inclusive growth.

6. To meet this growing demand, India currently offers nearly 200 slots per year for Uzbekistan. And let me be clear: while we have set numbers, our commitment is flexible. If the requirement grows, we are fully prepared to increase these seats to match your ambitions.

7. Sixty-one years ago, ITEC began as a small seed. Today, it has grown into a massive tree of cooperation. The fact that nearly half of our three-decade success has occurred in just the last five years proves that our best days are ahead of us. To our ITEC alumni – you are the permanent bridges connecting our two great countries.  We wish you all success in your future endeavours.

8. I am happy to inform you that the Embassy of India in collaboration with the Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan, is organizing the second edition of women-centric Indian Film Festival ‘Sashakt Nari-Celebrating Womanhood’ showcasing five films – featuring women in lead roles overcoming challenges and adversities through courage and resilience. The film screenings will be held from March 13-15, 2026 at the Palace of National Cinematic Art, 15 Alisher Navoiy, Tashkent. You are all invited to attend.

Wishing you all a Happy ITEC Day once again!

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