Italy has elevated its bilateral relations with India to a “Strategic Partnership,” with an emphasis on defence, the Indo-Pacific, energy, and science and technology. Italy is the 18th biggest foreign investor and fourth major trade partner for India within the European Union.
At the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions in Puglia on June 14, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni extended an invitation to Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India. The 75th anniversary of this alliance was celebrated last year.
Trade between the two countries hit $15 billion in 2022–23, a testament to the robustness of economic connections.
Technology, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and manufacturing account for the bulk of India’s $400 million in Italian investments. About 60,000 people are employed by more than 700 Italian enterprises in India. Joint research funding under the Executive Programme of Cooperation 2022-24 and the Italian Excellence Platform in Gujarat are two notable efforts.
The signing of a MoU in 2023, together with the formation of the Joint Defence Committee and the Military Cooperation Group, all served to strengthen defence cooperation. In addition to celebrating shared heritage, the two countries actively promote cultural understanding through an extensive exchange programme that benefits from Italy’s sizable Indian diaspora.
