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The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted an interaction with a visiting Delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Mr. Sodyq Safoev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Delegation also included Mr. Akmal Burkhanov, Director, Development Strategy Center, Tashkent and H.E. Mr IIhomjon Nematov, Ambassador at Large of the Ministry of Foreign affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The senior-level delegation was accompanied by H. E. Farhod Arziyev, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India.

The VIF’s panel of interlocutors was led by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, and comprised Lt. Gen. Ravi Sawhney, Amb. D. P. Srivastava, Amb. Skand Ranjan Tayal, Amb. Ashok Sajjanhar and Amb. Anil Wadhwa, among others. This interaction was held in the wake of visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to India commencing on 29th September 2018. The agenda for the discussion broadly centered on exploring options for expanding and deepening India-Uzbek relations in the context of recent global and regional developments.

Dr. Arvind Gupta, in his opening remarks drew attention towards historical and cultural connections and contemporary strategic partnership that binds India and Uzbekistan together. The leader of the Uzbek Delegation, Mr. Sodyq Safoev highlighted the recent reforms and transformations that Uzbekistan is undertaking and how it would be helpful in enhancing India-Uzbekistan bilateral relations. Importance of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Chabahar Port in bridging the gap between the two countries was discussed in details. Moreover, a joint strategy to work together for ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan was also on the agenda from the Indian side.

The Indian delegation also suggested various untouched avenues of developing cooperation with Uzbekistan including cooperation in the fields of Information Technology, Employment Generation, Medical Tourism, Electronics, Civil Aviation and Defence Manufacturing and Nuclear Energy among others. Problems of radicalization, especially amongst the youths was underlined as a serious threat to secularism in both countries.

HE Sodyq Safoev said that Uzbekistan’s transformation has opened new avenues of cooperation with India not only in trade and economy but also in cultural and educational sector. He also emphasised that both countries can work together in an effort to improve and imply e-governance as a means of combating corruption. As part of his concluding remarks Mr. Safoev said that there is a huge space for cooperation and dialogue and systematic exchange of views and ideas that can accelerate trade, economic and cultural cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.