Uzbekistan Discussing Export of Uranium to India: Minister

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Uzbekistan is in talks with India to sell uranium and the matter will be discussed when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visits New Delhi next week, a senior Uzbek official said. Uzbekistan is a key exporter of uranium while India's dependence on imports is expected to grow significantly in the coming years as it builds many new nuclear plants. "We are in negotiations with India. We are going to discuss this (during President Mirziyoyev’s visit)," deputy minister of foreign trade Sokhib Saifnazarov told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. Uzbekistan has been exporting uranium since it gained independence following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. India and Uzbekistan are expected to sign about 30 documents and agreements during the Uzbek president's two-day visit starting next week. Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Farhod Arziev said trade, investment, tourism, technology and education are among the key sectors in which both countries are keen to expand their links. Bilateral trade amounted to US$323.6 million in 2017, with Indian exports to Uzbekistan valued at US$291 million. -- BERNAMA