In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Central Asian countries paved way to high-level exchanges at bilateral and multilateral forums resulting into ‘India-Central Asia Summit’ hosted by PM Modi with the participation of the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, in a virtual format. Among other things, leaders are also expected to discuss the evolving regional security situation. The participation of the Secretaries of National Security Councils of Central Asian countries in the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan held in New Delhi on 10 November 2021 also outlined a common regional approach to Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan is India’s largest trading partner in Central Asia. Trade turnover in 2019 amounted to $ 1.9 billion, which is 46% higher than previous year. Further, about 700 legal entities and branches with the participation of Indian capital are registered in Kazakhstan. Surrounded by the Caspian Sea in the west to Russia in the North and China in the East, Kazakhstan the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest country in the world holds great significance to India especially in terms of energy resources and its economic potential and also due to its geo-strategic location. Kazakhstan is the world’s largest producer of Uranium and meets nearly 80 percent of India’s uranium requirement.
Total trade turnover between India and Uzbekistan has grown in the year 2020 stands to $442.7mn as against $355.5mn in 2019 and $286.5mn in the year 2018.
The major items of India’s exports include pharmaceutical products, mechanical equipment, vehicle parts, services, optical instruments, and equipment. While, India’s imports from Uzbekistan consist largely of fruit and vegetable products, services, fertilizers, juice products and extracts, and lubricants.The Bilateral Investment Treaty is under negotiation between both countries.
Following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992 with Kyrgyzstan, the two countries have signed several framework agreements including on Culture, Trade and Economic Cooperation, Civil Aviation, Investment Promotion, and Protection, Avoidance of Double Taxation, Consular Convention, etc. and share common concerns on the threat of terrorism, radicalism, and drug trafficking. Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project forms a key pillar of economic engagement between India and Turkmenistan. India-Tajikistan relations have traditionally been close and cordial. Tajikistan expressed support for India’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the term 2021-22. Tajikistan has publicly supported India’s bid for UN Security Council permanent membership and was a staunch supporter of India’s SCO membership.
India and Central Asia share longstanding historical, cultural, political, and economic relations. At ministerial level meetings, to improve trade relations, India has called for a focus on 4 Cs: Commerce, Capacity enhancement, Connectivity and Contacts. India has welcomed the interest of Central Asian countries to utilize the services of Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar Port for facilitating their trade with India and beyond. Continued meaningful engagement with “Extended Neighbourhood” in Central Asia is of vital importance and New India seems to have been hitting the right notes.
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