DELHI, March 9. /Dunyo IA/. The India-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship Group was officially announced in India’s highest legislative body, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

This step is a logical continuation of the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries, which in recent years has demonstrated unprecedented momentum in all key areas – from economics and high technology to cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

The group was formed at the initiative of Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) Speaker Om Birla. The Lok Sabha Secretariat adopted a special resolution launching the new Friendship Group.

A distinctive feature of the Friendship Group’s composition is its inclusiveness. It includes representatives from both the upper (Rajya Sabha) and lower (Lok Sabha) houses of parliament, representing the interests of both the ruling coalition and opposition parties. Ganesh Singh, a prominent political figure and MP from the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), has been appointed head of the Friendship Group.

The establishment of the Group was the practical implementation of agreements reached during the official visit of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Uzbekistan in 2025. Leading the Indian delegation to the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tashkent, he was received by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Tanzila Narbaeva.

During those meetings, the parties noted with satisfaction the steady growth of multifaceted cooperation, increased trade turnover, the implementation of joint projects in energy, pharmaceuticals, and IT, and the expansion of air travel. They particularly emphasized the importance of intensifying interparliamentary exchanges, creating friendship groups, and youth platforms to effectively harness the potential of the two countries' regions.

Today, parliamentary diplomacy is becoming a vital tool for supporting bilateral initiatives in investment, digital technology, textiles, pharmaceuticals, education, and other areas.

According to official information from the Indian side, the Friendship Group’s activities will focus on areas such as deepening direct dialogue between legislators and strengthening ties at the level of relevant committees, exchanging experience in legislative practice and public administration, supporting joint initiatives in the economic, cultural, educational, and humanitarian spheres, and facilitating the implementation of long-term projects within the framework of the strategic partnership between Tashkent and Delhi.

Experts note that the establishment of a permanent mechanism for interparliamentary interaction in Delhi underscores Uzbekistan’s special status as India's key partner in Central Asia. With the rapid growth of mutual tourism and the launch of new educational programs (including Uzbek language studies at leading Indian universities), the Friendship Group’s work will provide a reliable foundation for further rapprochement between the peoples of the two countries.