Brief on Indian Community in Uzbekistan
Embassy of India, Tashkent
(Consular Section)
Brief – Indian community in Uzbekistan
(i) The Indian community in Uzbekistan numbers about 15000, almost all of them citizens of India, and only 58 are Overseas Citizens of India. There are about 800 people who live in Tashkent and are engaged in export and import (mostly pharmaceuticals), white collar workers employed in local companies or companies belonging to Indian nationals and a few are doctors and medical professionals. Majority of the community members in Tashkent are engaged in pharmaceuticals sector as India has a sizeable market in Uzbekistan’s pharmaceuticals imports. Medical tourism to India is popular and hence, many persons are working in the healthcare sector. Besides above, there are professors in some Universities in Tashkent, Samarkand, Andijan, Bukhara and other places. During year 2023, around 104 teachers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu joined in different government schools as English teachers through NORKA department of Kerala government. There are concentrations of Indian blue-collar workers in Samarkand, Kokand and Karshi who are employed in specific engineering and construction projects. Around 6000 Indian semi-skilled workers joined in M/S Enter Engineering after late 2022 in their sites at Almalyk in Tashkent region, Boysun in Kashkadaryaregion and few other places.
(ii) There are approx. 7000 Indian students studying medicine in different universities in Uzbekistan; in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Fergana, Andijan, Termez and Namangan. This number swelled after Russia – Ukraine conflict. All these universities/institutes are government run however; a few students have taken admission in private universities also. A close contact and liaison are maintained with the Administrative Authorities of the concerned Universities/Institutes to ensure the well-being of Indian students. In its efforts to reach out to the Indian students, during the year 2022 and 2023, mission organized ‘Welcome Ceremonies for the Indian students’ in Fergana, Tashkent, Samarkand and Urgench.
(iii) The diaspora activities in Uzbekistan have increased and become more organized in recent years. The diaspora is also active in participation in Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, in various campaigns of Government of India and working with the Mission, in academic activities of the Uzbek universities along with the Mission wherever promotion of Hindi and India studies are involved, in the Tashkent International Film Festival given the popularity of Bollywood in Uzbekistan and in promotion of cricket in Uzbekistan by holding matches with a local club formed by the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan and other such activities.
(iv) A telegram channel ‘Pravasi Bhartiya” has also been created to disseminate information and contact with more people within minimum possible time. Diaspora members are also encouraged to join this channel to get updates from the Embassy.