India PM Narendra Modi begins Central Asia tour
- Published
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is on a five nation tour of Central Asia and Russia with trade and energy topping his agenda.
He will attend the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summits during his eight-day visit.
He will also lobby for India to join the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Oman-Iran transit treaty, which will give it access to Turkmenistan's oil reserves.
Indian trade organisations have expressed excitement over the visit.
The Press Trust of India news agency quoted the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as saying that Mr Modi's visit to Central Asia was a "landmark" event to revitalise links with the region.
The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) highlighted India's recent decision to hike foreign direct investment in the defence manufacturing industry as an opportunity to improve trade ties with Russia.
Mr Modi's itinerary will include an extended meeting with Russian President Valdimir Putin.
Local media have speculated that the visit may also include a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Russia.