Prime Minister Modi with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Photo/X)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday received Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival in Rome on the last leg of his five-nation tour.Sharing a picture with PM Modi on X, Meloni wrote, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!”
An Italian government official said that the visit represents a major diplomatic engagement as India and Italy look forward to strengthening bilateral relations and elevating their relationship to a special strategic partnership.Like many European countries, Italy is seeking deeper engagement with India amid changing geopolitical dynamics. The European Union earlier this year finalized a long-awaited trade agreement with India, partly aimed at reducing dependence on the United States, Reuters reported.Click here to get live updates on Prime Minister Modi’s visit Prime Minister Modi’s visit is his first bilateral trip to Italy, though he had earlier traveled to the country to attend the G7 summit in 2024 and the G20 meeting three years ago.
During his stay, he is scheduled to meet Meloni on Wednesday at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili, which dates back to the 17th century.In a post on X after landing in Rome, Prime Minister Modi said the discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation between India and Italy, especially in the Indo-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).Launched through a 2023 memorandum that includes partners including the European Union and the United States, IMEC aims to develop integrated trade routes linking India with the Persian Gulf and Europe.
Read also | Italy and India: Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean RegionThe two leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration to deepen the strategic partnership, including annual summit-level meetings and a goal of reaching 20 billion euros ($23.2 billion) in bilateral trade by 2029, the official said.The volume of bilateral trade between the two countries will reach more than 14 billion euros in 2023, according to the Italian Embassy in New Delhi.India and Italy, which upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in 2023, have expanded cooperation across sectors including artificial intelligence, scientific research, trade and defence.During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and Meloni will also attend a working lunch with senior executives from leading Indian and Italian industrial groups to explore opportunities in investment, technology and manufacturing.The official added that a series of agreements are expected to be signed, including maritime transport, agriculture, higher education, vital minerals, cooperation in the field of museums, and efforts to combat economic and financial crime.The two leaders will also exchange views on key global issues, including the conflict in the Middle East, the Ukrainian war and security in the Indo-Pacific region.Prime Minister Modi also said that he is scheduled to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and visit the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora on his arrival in Rome. Interact with community members and witness cultural performances at the hotel where you stay.A painting of the ghats of Varanasi, painted by an Italian artist inspired by Indian culture, was also presented to the Prime Minister, symbolizing the cultural ties between the two countries.Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes amid growing momentum in Indo-Italian relations, with the two sides presenting the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 covering trade, defence, energy, innovation and people-to-people exchanges.Earlier in his tour, Prime Minister Modi visited Norway, after stops in Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.
