Bilateral Updates

Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, on Wednesday said that several MoUs were signed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Italy, as the visit was at a critical juncture between both nations' relationships. George, while addressing the press in the Special Briefing on the visit of Prime Minister to Italy, said that PM Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni interacted with select Indian and Italian industry leaders representing myriad of sectors.

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi concluded his visit to Italy, the final leg of his five-nation foreign tour, on Wednesday, with India and Italy committing to raising annual bilateral trade to €20 billion by 2029. Following talks between PM Modi and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, in Rome, India and Italy announced 15 outcomes. These included an India-Italy defence industrial roadmap for cooperation in defence manufacturing, collaboration on critical minerals, a pact to facilitate the mobility of Indian nurses to Italy, and an agreement aimed at promoting India’s marine exports to Italy.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday said relations between India and Italy had entered a "decisive phase", adding that a deeper strategic alignment between the two countries was underway after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a post on X following the meeting, Meloni said ties between the two nations had expanded with "unprecedented momentum" in recent years, transforming from a cordial friendship into a "special strategic partnership".