Samarkand/New Delhi:Central Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Wednesday. The Finance Minister informed Mirziyoyev about a highly beneficial meeting held to enhance cooperation with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Trade, Investment, and Industry.
According to a statement released by the Finance Ministry on Thursday via ‘X’, the Finance Minister met the President of Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the 9th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Samarkand. During the meeting, she suggested that tourism between India and Uzbekistan is continuously growing. Therefore, bilateral discussions on fintech collaboration and cross-border real-time payment systems would benefit students, tourists, and businesses from both countries.
The ministry noted that Sitharaman appreciated Uzbekistan's efforts towards sustainable development during the meeting. Additionally, both countries could explore ways to collaborate on green technologies and climate action initiatives. Acknowledging the potential to further enhance bilateral cooperation, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev appreciated proposals to strengthen collaboration not only in traditional sectors but also in new areas such as digital technologies and renewable energy.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman extended heartfelt wishes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Mirziyoyev and thanked Uzbekistan for participating in the third Voice of Global South Summit scheduled for August 2024. President Mirziyoyev assured during the meeting that there is a deep historical relationship between India and Uzbekistan and expressed his support for strengthening bilateral ties further.
