India and Central Asia strengthen cooperation on rare earths and critical minerals

India and five Central Asian nations have reaffirmed their intent to collaborate on the exploration and development of rare earth elements and critical minerals.

At the India-Central Asia Dialogue held in New Delhi on 6 June 2025 under the chairship of the Indian External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the foreign ministers of India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan jointly emphasised the importance of securing access to these strategic resources. This is reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.

The foreign ministers further encouraged the exchange of expert delegations between India and Central Asia to explore practical frameworks for cooperation in the mining, processing, and secure supply of rare earths and critical minerals.

According to recent reports, India is also in discussions with various partners to develop strategic stockpiles and promote domestic manufacturing of rare earth magnets, with potential fiscal incentives being considered.

According to the source, the cooperation between India and Central Asia on critical minerals is viewed as a vital step towards building long-term resilience in supply chains, particularly in high-tech and green energy sectors.

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