The diplomatic bond between Italy and India is also strengthened thanks to the relationship between Giorgia Meloni and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Upon the arrival of the Indian Prime Minister, Meloni wrote on social media: “Welcome to Rome, my friend.” The two exchanged, as Modi himself confirms, opinions on numerous important topics, such as technological innovation, international relations and strategic development. All framed by a dinner and a private visit to the Colosseum.
“The relationship between Italy and India – write Giorgia Meloni and Narendra Modi in a joint editorial on Times of India – is at a decisive stage, with unprecedented momentum to become a special strategic partnership based on the values of freedom and democracy and the common vision of the future.” The intent, they continue, is to create a powerful synergy between Italian design, manufacturing excellence and world-class supercomputers with India’s rapid economic growth, its engineering talent, manufacturing scale and its innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem of over 100 unicorns and 200,000 start-ups. And the two leaders already know what to focus on between defense and aerospace, clean technologies, textiles, tourism and much more.
Italy-India: the relationship in a decisive phase
It appears surprisingly on the Times of India a joint editorial written by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the latter’s visit to Rome. While the photos between the two and the exchange of sweets with the fusion of their names “Melody” circulate online, a strategic partnership between the two countries is emerging.
They write that the relationship between Italy and India is in a decisive phase, with unprecedented momentum and a common vision of the future. A bond that resists even an international system that is going through a profound transformation:
The partnership between Italy and India is guided by regular exchanges at the highest political and institutional levels, and is acquiring a new and higher dimension that combines our economic dynamism, the creativity of our societies and the wisdom of millenary civilizations.
The editorial continues by describing the determination of the two nations to commit to innovation, energy transition and to strengthen their strategic sovereignty.
Investments and trade for 20 billion euros
In concrete terms, it is about creating a synergy between the two countries:
- Italy with its design, manufacturing excellence and supercomputers;
- India with its engineering talent, economic growth, manufacturing scale and innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Meloni and Modi underline that this is not a simple integration, but “a co-creation of value in which their respective industrial strengths reinforce each other”.
The commercial objective is to reach 20 billion euros of trade between India and Italy by 2029 (today it is worth 14 billion).
They will focus on:
- defense and aerospace;
- clean technologies;
- machinery;
- automotive components;
- chemicals;
- pharmaceutical products;
- textile products;
- agri-food products;
- tourism.
The two always underline how
technological innovation is at the heart of our partnership. The coming decades will be marked by a technological revolution of incalculable scope, characterized by advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals and digital infrastructure.
According to the two leaders, India’s innovative ecosystem and Italian industrial processes will be able to cooperate in these areas in a strategic manner, mutually supporting each other.
International dossiers
The joint signature on the 2025-2029 Action Plan should arrive on May 20, 2026. Furthermore, they should announce the Italy-India Year of Culture and Tourism 2027, strengthening the Innovit India initiative to bring the innovation ecosystems of the two countries closer together.
In the morning, there will also be a lunch with the leaders of Italian industrial groups to push investments. Various agreements could be signed, from maritime transport to agriculture, from education to critical minerals, up to museum cooperation and the fight against economic-financial crimes.
The two will also discuss international issues, such as the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict in Ukraine and security in the Indo-Pacific.
