NEW DELHI, August 4. /Dunyo IA/. The India–Uzbekistan Business Forum took place in the Indian capital, bringing together more than 250 representatives of government agencies, leading companies, investors and business communities of two countries, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Forum was organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in India, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency “Invest India” and the ministries of industry and trade of both states.

Event was attended by the business delegation of Uzbekistan led by Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov. Indian side was represented by Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, heads of major companies, representatives of government agencies and leading business associations of the country.

Business program featured a plenary session, presentations and thematic discussions focused on prospects for expanding bilateral trade, strengthening investment cooperation and advancing industrial collaboration. Particular attention was paid to cooperation in healthcare, energy, information technologies, textile and mining industries.

Addressing the forum, representatives of both countries expressed their interest in further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and moving towards a broader format of economic engagement based on joint production and investment projects.

Indian business was presented with opportunities to implement projects in Uzbekistan, including the establishment of new production facilities, development of industrial cooperation and participation in investment initiatives across various regions of the country.

A ministerial session followed, during which Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan noted that mutual trade between the two countries for the first time in history had exceeded $1.3 billion. “This is, of course, an achievement, but it is far from the potential of the economies of two countries”, Laziz Kudratov said in his address.

Minister also called on participants of the forum to “join efforts to increase our trade to $3–5 billion in the coming years”. “I am convinced that with the active contribution of the businessmen, we will be able to achieve this goal. Governments, in turn, will continue to create all the necessary conditions”, he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal highlighted the dynamic development of relations between two states and expressed India’s interest in further expanding economic partnership.

“There is a lot of complementarities between our economies. For example, Uzbekistan is very strong in cotton production, while India has a strong textile sector”, Minister said, noting that this combination of advantages creates new opportunities for joint projects and expanded industrial cooperation.

Forum concluded with bilateral B2B and G2B meetings, where participants discussed specific areas of cooperation, promising investment projects and further steps to strengthen relations.

Representatives of the business circles of Uzbekistan and India established direct contacts with potential partners, exchanged information about their companies and presented opportunities for implementing projects.

Following the event, parties confirmed their mutual interest in the consistent development of Uzbekistan–India economic cooperation and agreed to continue joint efforts to implement shared initiatives.

Agreements reached at the forum are expected to contribute to attracting new investments, deepening production ties and further increasing bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and India.