Indian PM Announces Of Setting Up India Study Center At Tashkent

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday announced that a Centre for India Studies, to be named after Mahatma Gandhi, will be set up here and praised the nearly 200 people of Indian origin who have made Uzbekistan their home for changing the image of the country here.

"With your professionalism, sincerity, hard work and competence you have made India synonymous with quality and dependability, particularly in the context of high technology areas," Manmohan Singh told nearly 200 local Indians and eminent Indologists.

"India recognises the significant contribution being made by non-resident and overseas Indians in the development of our own economy and commerce," he said.

He also thanked Indologists in the region for contributing to an understanding of different facets of Indian culture and way of life.

Manmohan Singh said: "I am happy that the government of Uzbekistan has offered our nationals a congenial working atmosphere. The relations between our two countries are very close and historic. By your own everyday interaction with your Uzbek colleagues, you also contribute to cementing these ties."

"The Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies has important programmes of studies and research on subjects related to our country.

"Recognising their valuable contribution, I am pleased to announce that we will assist in the creation of a Centre of Indian Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies which, I propose, may be named after Mahatma Gandhi," Manmohan Singh said.

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Manmohan Singh was in the Central Asian nation on a 24-hour state visit - the first by an Indian head of government to this country in the last 13 years.

--Edited IANS