New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh left New Delhi on Monday for Dushanbe in Tajikistan. He will represent India at the 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government on October 19 and 20.
The meeting will focus on trade and economic ties among member countries. Leaders will also discuss connectivity, innovation, investment and cultural exchanges. The agenda includes the functioning of the organisation’s financial and institutional bodies.
Before leaving for Dushanbe, Singh shared a post on X. “Leaving New Delhi for Dushanbe. Looking forward to representing India at the SCO Heads of Government (HoG) meeting in Tajikistan on 19-20 October 2026,” he wrote.
The Ministry of Defence said the meeting would review ongoing cooperation and discuss decisions related to the SCO’s financial and institutional functioning.
India’s Focus on Trade and Connectivity
India has taken part in several SCO initiatives covering startups and innovation. These also include digital public infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges.
The previous SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting was held in Moscow on November 18, 2025. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India at the meeting.
The SCO has 10 member countries. These are India, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia have observer status. Other countries participate as dialogue partners.
India Calls for Stronger Economic Ties
Tajikistan also hosted an SCO meeting on trade and economic cooperation in September. India highlighted security, connectivity and opportunity as key areas for the organisation.
Yashvir Singh, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, represented India at the meeting. He stressed the need to increase trade between SCO countries and reduce trade costs.
The discussions covered stronger supply chains and better customs procedures. Paperless trade and electronic documents were also part of the agenda. India further called for better connectivity through different modes of transport.
Agriculture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and electronics were among the sectors identified for cooperation. Energy security was another key area. Renewable energy and green hydrogen also featured in the discussions.
Singh’s visit to Dushanbe comes as SCO members continue to explore ways to strengthen trade and cooperation across key sectors.