Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev lauds India's contribution to Chabahar port

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launch pad to Central Asia. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has visited India twice in the last four months; first on a state visit in September and then last week for the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar. In an interview with Wion's Sidhant Sibal Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev talked about a range of issues from Chabahar to connectivity to Afghanistan. Edited excerpts:

What do you think about the growing connectivity between the two countries?

I would like to inform you that just before our President's visit, we hosted the India-Central Asia dialogues at the level of foreign ministers in which Foreign minister of Afghanistan also participated. For the first time, such a format was created and the meeting took place in Samarkand where all foreign ministries from central Asia, India and Afghanistan participated.

One of the key items of discussion was to expand areas of connectivity between India and central Asia and use the transit potential of Afghanistan. So now, discussion among the parties, among Central Asia and India is going on to increase the connectivity opportunities which will create new corridors between Uzbekistan, central Asia and India. We see great transit potential of Afghanistan in this regard.

What is our view on the Chabahar port?

Uzbekistan is double landlocked and any project that can help Uzbekistan reach the international market is seen positively. Projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia. We believe it will play a very important practical role in expanding trade and economic relations.

What is your take on the bilateral ties between the two countries?

We have had more than one visit of utmost importance in the last four months. Our president visited India twice in the said period and attended the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. I would like to stress that the intensity of visit at the highest level shows how close and how the dynamic the relationship between the two countries are.

Our Relations are getting closer and getting a comprehensive character at various levels — political, economic and trade and economics, cultural. At the Gujarat summit, we had a country pavilion were we showed 'Made in Uzbekistan' products. Our president gave a speech to highlight key areas of cooperation; our President highlighted the importance of connectivity between India and Uzbekistan as a means to expand investment. The idea is to establish a railway line that can connect Uzbekistan and India via Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port. We believe with expanding connectivity, options on trade and volume of trade will increase. Regional cooperation was also highlighted.

How do you see Investment ties?

Investment and economic cooperation is an important part of Uzbek India dialogue. The investment was an important part of the agenda of our President when he came on the state visit in last year in October. This time in his talks with PM Modi, importance investment cooperation was highlighted separately. And I am happy to inform u as part of the visit, a very important and strategic agreement on the supply of Uzbek uranium to India and exchange of documents took place in front of 2 leaders in Vibrant Gujarat summit hall. And also 2 encourage investment project we have signed an agreement between EXIM bank of India and state investment committee of Uzbekistan.

They have inked framework agreement on Line of credit. We are talking about a soft loan. We are getting a line of credit at the volume of 200 million US dollars to implement social and infrastructure project. We working with the private sector of India.