India and Italy have agreed to strengthen their partnership across key sectors such as trade, defence, clean energy, and technology.
A central focus of their latest discussions was the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), an ambitious project designed to enhance connectivity and cooperation between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani held wide-ranging talks in New Delhi to review the progress of the Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29.
Their meeting placed particular emphasis on emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, renewable energy, and digital technologies.
Tajani, who also holds the portfolio of foreign affairs and international cooperation, is currently on a two-day visit to India. During the high-level delegation talks, both sides reviewed their growing bilateral ties.
Discussions included cooperation in space, science and technology, investment, security, clean energy transition, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.
The ministers highlighted the untapped potential for deeper collaboration in sectors like biofuels, education, and youth mobility.
The JSAP, announced during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Brazil last year, provides a roadmap to guide bilateral cooperation until 2029.
Both leaders reiterated their commitment to taking the India-Italy strategic partnership to new heights. The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Tajani has helped further this partnership and expanded its scope across several domains.
During the talks, Jaishankar welcomed Italy's continued engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. He also appreciated Italy’s decision to appoint a special envoy for the IMEEC project, signalling its seriousness in moving the initiative forward.
The IMEEC is seen as a transformative project that will create a network of roads, railways, and shipping routes connecting India, Saudi Arabia, Europe, and the United States.
First introduced during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the corridor aims to enhance integration and connectivity across regions, potentially reshaping global trade routes.
Deputy Prime Minister Tajani also held talks with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. Together with Jaishankar, they co-chaired the first India-Italy Business, Science and Tech Forum. The forum aims to boost partnerships in technology, academic exchange, innovation, and joint ventures in business.
The event saw participation from over 100 Italian companies alongside Indian firms, representing sectors such as Industry 4.0, logistics, infrastructure, clean energy, aerospace, and defence. A number of business-to-business meetings were organised to explore commercial collaboration.
In addition to trade and technology, an Education, Science, and Innovation Forum was also held. Academic leaders and research heads from both nations came together to identify opportunities for collaboration in higher education and scientific research.
To support these efforts, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Italy’s Ministry of University and Research. This agreement will help foster greater cooperation in scientific research and development.
The visit reflects a shared vision between India and Italy to deepen strategic ties and work together on global challenges, with the IMEEC initiative emerging as a cornerstone of this cooperation.
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