TASHKENT: India and Uzbekistan are making fresh efforts to deepen the ties at a time when Tashkent is looking eastwards and has taken a strategic decision to work closely with Russia.

The Uzbek side has opened its doors for Indian participation in key sectors, including oil and gas.

"Let me be frank with you. We do not allow everybody to work with us in our key sectors. But India is special for us and you are welcome," Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Rustoma Azimov told visiting Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh.

Earlier, Mr. Ramesh and his counterpart Abdullah Aripov co-chaired a session of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Commission.

Uzbekistan is one of top 10 gas producers in the world. It also has large deposits of gold. In seeking access to Uzbekistan's natural resources, the Indian side stressed that the two countries should formulate an integrated package for cooperation.

Training offer

"We are not here to exploit Uzbekistan's natural wealth. In fact, we will be happy to train Uzbek engineers, geologists and other experts in the energy sectors at some of our top training institutes so that the Uzbek oil and gas industry can develop further on its own," Mr. Ramesh said.

Members of the Indian delegation said they were working on the principle of "value addition" when seeking Uzbek raw materials.

"We have expressed an interest in Uzbekistan's gold sector.

``However, we will be ready to help in developing the gems and jewellery sector with Indian expertise in Uzbekistan as well," a diplomatic source said.

Uzbekistan— the fifth largest producer of cotton in the world — is seeking Indian investments in textiles, pharmaceuticals and leather goods.

After holding discussions on gas exploration over the last one year, India is now looking for opportunities in four specific blocs— two in the Bukhara-Khiva region and one each in the Ferghana valley and southwest Uzbekistan.

The Indo-Uzbek dialogue has taken place at a time when there has been a major shift in Uzbekistan's foreign policy orientation.

Sources said relations between Uzbekistan and the United States soured dramatically after Washington criticised Tashkent for using force against protesters in the city of Andijan.

After this incident, two years ago, American influence in Uzbekistan has diminished substantially. On the contrary Uzbekistan's ties with Moscow had consolidated rapidly.

The warming of ties between Uzbekistan and Russia are reflected in Tashkent's recent decisions in the oil and gas sector.

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