Uzbekistan FM Odilovich to visit India on Aug 2-5, meet Jaishankar
Synopsis
Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Odilovich arrives in India on 2 August for a four-day visit that includes a presidential call at Rashtrapati Bhavan, formal talks with EAM Jaishankar, and a business forum — the most substantive Uzbek diplomatic engagement with India this year, signalling a concrete push to translate strategic partnership into trade and investment outcomes.
Key Takeaways
Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich will visit India from 2 to 5 August 2026 .
He will meet President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hold talks with EAM S.
A business forum in New Delhi is also part of his itinerary, underscoring a trade and investment focus.
The visit follows a 20 July 2026 phone call between Jaishankar and Odilovich on deepening bilateral ties.
The 17th round of India-Uzbekistan Foreign Office Consultations was held on 13 May 2026 , covering trade, tourism, technology, energy, and education.
Uzbekistan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich, will undertake an official visit to India from 2 to 5 August 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday, 31 July. The visit marks a significant step in deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations, with high-level diplomatic and economic engagements planned across the capital.
Key Meetings and Engagements
During his stay, Odilovich is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hold formal talks with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. He is also set to attend a business forum in New Delhi, signalling a clear push to expand bilateral trade and investment ties beyond the diplomatic sphere.
Diplomatic Groundwork: The July 20 Phone Call
The visit follows a telephonic conversation between EAM Jaishankar and Odilovich on 20 July 2026, during which the two ministers discussed the trajectory of bilateral relations. Jaishankar subsequently posted on X: 'A good conversation with Bakhtiyor Saidov of Uzbekistan today. We spoke about deepening our bilateral ties, including in trade, investment and other areas.'
Odilovich, for his part, described the call as 'substantive' and said both sides agreed to maintain regular dialogue. He noted that bilateral relations, anchored in a strategic partnership, 'continue to develop steadily across all areas of cooperation.' Both ministers also discussed the schedule of upcoming high-level engagements and avenues for strengthening cooperation within international organisations.
17th Round of Foreign Office Consultations
The August visit builds on momentum from the 17th round of India-Uzbekistan Foreign Office Consultations, held in New Delhi on 13 May 2026. The consultations were co-chaired by Secretary (West) Sibi George and Bakhromjon Aloev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, both sides reviewed the 'full spectrum of bilateral relations with focus on trade and investment, tourism, technology, innovation, energy, cooperation in educational, cultural fields and other consular issues.' Regional and global issues of mutual interest were also discussed.
What This Visit Signals
This is the most substantive Uzbek diplomatic engagement with India in the current calendar year, and it comes amid India's broader push to deepen Central Asian ties — a region of growing strategic importance given connectivity corridors such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Notably, the inclusion of a business forum on Odilovich's itinerary suggests trade facilitation, not just diplomatic optics, is at the centre of this visit.
The two countries are expected to further cement agreements on sectors discussed during the May consultations, with formal outcomes anticipated before Odilovich's departure on 5 August 2026.
Point of View
With a business forum embedded in the itinerary, is a signal that both sides want to move beyond diplomatic ritual. The real measure will be whether the August engagements produce verifiable trade or investment commitments, or simply reaffirm the existing strategic partnership framework. With connectivity corridors gaining urgency and China deepening its own Central Asian footprint, India cannot afford another round of consultations that yields only a joint communiqué.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister visiting India?
Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich is visiting India from 2 to 5 August 2026. The visit was announced by India's Ministry of External Affairs on 31 July 2026.
Who will Uzbekistan's FM meet during his India visit?
Odilovich is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hold formal talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He will also attend a business forum in New Delhi.
What is the current state of India-Uzbekistan relations?
India and Uzbekistan share a strategic partnership that covers trade, investment, tourism, technology, energy, and education. The 17th round of Foreign Office Consultations was held in New Delhi on 13 May 2026, the most recent structured dialogue before this visit.
What was discussed in the July 20 phone call between Jaishankar and Odilovich?
The two ministers discussed deepening bilateral ties, including in trade, investment, and other areas. They also exchanged views on the schedule of upcoming high-level engagements and cooperation within international organisations.
Why does the India-Uzbekistan relationship matter strategically?
Uzbekistan is a key Central Asian partner for India, relevant to connectivity ambitions such as the International North-South Transport Corridor. Deepening ties with Tashkent is part of India's broader effort to expand its strategic footprint in a region where China and Russia are dominant players.
