India, Uzbekistan Explore PTA to Push Bilateral Trade with Central Asia

NEW DELHI: India and Uzbekistan on Tuesday agreed to work towards early conclusion of the Feasibility Study to be jointly conducted by the two sides to begin negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement. This was agreed when Abdulaziz Kamilov, Uzbekistan Foreign Minister met his Indian counterpart here.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated the need for early operationalization of $ 200 million of Line of Credit extended by India to Uzbekistan for which Uzbek side is in the process of finalizing necessary details of the identified projects.

Kamilov reiterated the invitation extended by President of Uzbekistan to Prime Minister to visit Uzbekistan. Foreign Minister Kamilov briefed EAM on Uzbekistan’s efforts to liberalize its economy, create business friendly conditions and attract foreign investment including that from Indian companies.

The Ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of defence, counter-terrorism and security, information and communication technology, development partnership and promote cultural exchanges.

Jaishankar and Kamilov evaluated the initiative of the India-Central Asia Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers with the participation of Afghanistan which was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in January 2019. The next Dialogue will be held in India in 2020. Kamilov stated that he looks forward to participating in it.

Cooperation in the multilateral fora including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was also discussed. Kamilov extended an invitation to External Affairs Minister to visit Uzbekistan. Dates of the visit will be decided in due course.

During his visit, Kamilov will give an address at the Raisina Dialogue and is expected to call on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 January.

Source: ET

Image Courtesy: S Jaishankar Twitter