Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with Uzbekistan’s highest state award, the Order of Oliy Darajali Dustlik, during his state visit to Tashkent on Sunday. The prestigious recognition was presented by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and reflects the growing strategic partnership and longstanding friendship between India and Uzbekistan.
The honour has added a significant diplomatic dimension to Modi’s visit, which is focused on expanding cooperation between the two countries in areas including energy, trade, technology, investment and regional connectivity.
The award is also the 36th international honour received by Prime Minister Modi. In his remarks after receiving the distinction, Modi described the moment as a matter of immense pride and dedicated the recognition to the enduring friendship between the people of India and Uzbekistan.
PM Modi Dedicates Honour to 1.4 Billion Indians
Accepting the award, Modi emphasised the meaning behind the Uzbek word “Dostlik”, which signifies friendship. He noted that the idea of friendship is equally familiar to Indians through the word “Dost”.
The Prime Minister said the spirit of “Dostlik” represents the foundation of relations between India and Uzbekistan. Rather than treating the award as a personal achievement, he dedicated it to the people of India.
Modi expressed gratitude to the Uzbek people, the Uzbek government and President Mirziyoyev, describing the recognition as a symbol of the strong relationship between the two nations.
The honour comes as New Delhi and Tashkent seek to give their bilateral relationship greater strategic depth. Both sides have been working to expand cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic engagement and create new opportunities in business, energy, technology and infrastructure.
Mirziyoyev Praises India’s Rapid Development
During delegation-level discussions, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev praised India’s development and highlighted the country’s progress across multiple sectors under Modi’s leadership.
The Uzbek President pointed to India’s economic growth and major development projects while also acknowledging its achievements in digitalisation, information technology, artificial intelligence and space exploration.
Mirziyoyev also noted the increasing influence of India in global affairs. He described Uzbekistan as a close friend of India and welcomed the country’s progress across strategic and technological domains.
The comments underline Tashkent’s growing interest in closer engagement with one of the world’s largest economies and fastest-expanding technology markets.
India and Uzbekistan Move Toward Long-Term Uranium Supply
One of the important outcomes of the visit is an agreement in principle to establish a long-term framework for uranium supplies from Uzbekistan to India.
The proposed arrangement could strengthen cooperation in the energy sector and contribute to India’s efforts to secure reliable long-term energy resources. The development also highlights the increasingly strategic character of India-Uzbekistan relations.
Beyond energy, the two countries are also working to expand cooperation between cities and states. Modi said that three sister-city and sister-state arrangements were being formalised and stressed the need for a clear roadmap to maximise their potential.
New Tashkent and GIFT City Become Models for Cooperation
Infrastructure and urban development also featured prominently in the discussions.
Prime Minister Modi referred to Uzbekistan’s ambitious New Tashkent development and India’s GIFT City in Gujarat, suggesting that both projects could provide valuable opportunities for sharing expertise and technology.
India is prepared to welcome Uzbek officials and experts to study the experience behind GIFT City, while cooperation around New Tashkent could create additional opportunities for Indian companies, technology providers and infrastructure firms.
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The focus on these mega-projects demonstrates the broader economic ambitions of the partnership, with both countries looking to translate political goodwill into concrete development initiatives.
India-Uzbekistan to Strengthen Economic and Diplomatic Coordination
The two nations have also agreed to strengthen institutional mechanisms overseeing bilateral cooperation.
A new Coordination Council at the Foreign Minister level will be established to provide greater direction and coordination across different areas of the relationship. At the same time, the existing Joint Commission will be elevated from the secretary level to the ministerial level.
The changes are expected to help both governments monitor agreements more effectively and accelerate the implementation of decisions reached during high-level meetings.
India and Uzbekistan will also jointly organise a business summit, bringing together leading business figures from both countries. The initiative is expected to encourage investment, partnerships and new commercial opportunities.
A New Chapter in India-Uzbekistan Relations
The presentation of the Order of Oliy Darajali Dustlik has emerged as one of the defining moments of Prime Minister Modi’s Tashkent visit.
While the award recognises Modi’s contribution to strengthening bilateral relations, the broader significance lies in the expanding areas of cooperation between New Delhi and Tashkent.
From uranium supplies and urban infrastructure to technology, artificial intelligence, business and diplomatic coordination, India and Uzbekistan are seeking to build a more comprehensive partnership.
The latest developments indicate that the relationship is moving beyond traditional diplomatic ties toward a deeper strategic and economic engagement. The prestigious Uzbek honour, therefore, carries significance not only as a personal recognition for Modi but also as a powerful symbol of the growing friendship between India and Uzbekistan.
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