Context:
India and Italy have solidified their commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation through the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29, a comprehensive framework unveiled following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G20 summit in Brazil. This ambitious plan spans key sectors such as defense, trade, energy, and space, aiming to deepen the ties between the two nations. The collaboration is poised to bring mutual benefits, leveraging the strengths of both countries to foster growth and innovation across these crucial areas.
Relevance:
GS II: International Relations
Dimensions of the Article:
- India-Italy bilateral relation
- Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 Highlights
India-Italy bilateral relation
| Political Relations | Establishment: Diplomatic relations between India and Italy were initiated in 1947. Recent Developments: A Virtual Summit in November 2020 between the Prime Ministers of both countries led to the adoption of the 2020-2025 Action Plan. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Italy in October 2021 for the G20 Summit included a Joint Statement on a Strategic Partnership focusing on Energy Transition. In March 2023, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited India, where both nations elevated their relations to a strategic partnership level. Meloni also participated as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 8th Raisina Dialogue. |
| Economic Relations | Trade Volume: As of 2023, bilateral trade reached €14.34 billion, with India enjoying a trade surplus of €3.98 billion. Trading Position: Italy ranks as India’s 4th largest trading partner in the EU, following Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Investments: Italy’s cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India from January 2000 to December 2023 totaled USD 3.53 billion. Indian investments in Italy are estimated at around USD 400 million. |
| Defence Cooperation | Historical Ties: India’s contributions during the Second World War are commemorated in Italy, where 5,782 Indian soldiers were commemorated, with six receiving the Victoria Cross. Current Initiatives: In February 2023, Italy assigned an official to the Information Fusion Center – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to bolster maritime security and support anti-piracy operations. The countries are exploring joint ventures in defense and aerospace, including technology transfers. A Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism facilitates collaboration on security matters. |
| Energy Cooperation | Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition: Signed in 2021, focusing on collaboration in green hydrogen and biofuels. |
| Science and Technology Cooperation | Innovation Day: The first India-Italy Innovation Day was conducted virtually on July 14, 2021, with subsequent annual celebrations to foster scientific and technological exchanges. |
| Indian Community in Italy | Population: The Indian community, including Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), numbers around 180,000, making it the third-largest Indian community in Europe after those in the UK and the Netherlands. |
Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 Highlights
Political Engagement
- High-Level Dialogues: Scheduled regular meetings between Heads of Government and key ministers including Foreign, Trade, and Defense Ministers.
- Bilateral Consultations: Commitment to annual bilateral consultations between the two nations’ Foreign Ministries to discuss and enhance sectoral cooperation.
Economic Collaboration
- Sectoral Investment: Focus on strengthening bilateral trade and investments, particularly in sectors like green technologies, sustainable mobility, and semiconductors.
- Business Integration: Promotion of trade fairs, business forums, and industrial partnerships to facilitate deeper economic ties.
Enhancing Connectivity
- Sustainable Transport Initiatives: Collaboration on projects that support sustainable transport systems and climate action.
- Infrastructure Development: Enhance maritime and land infrastructure cooperation, including significant projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
- Maritime Agreements: Efforts to finalize agreements on maritime and port cooperation.
Science and Technology
- Technology Partnerships: Expansion of partnerships in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, telecommunications, and digital services.
- Innovation Exchange: Introduction of the Indo-Italian Innovation and Incubation Exchange Programme to bolster connections between startups and innovators.
- Research Collaboration: Enhancement of STEM research collaborations through scholarships and joint projects.
Space Collaboration
- Space Research: Expanded collaboration between ASI (Italian Space Agency) and ISRO in areas like Earth observation, heliophysics, and lunar exploration.
- Space Delegation: Organization of an Italian space delegation visit to India by mid-2025 to further space-related cooperation.
Energy Transition
- Tech Summits: Organization of summits to promote industrial partnerships in the energy sector.
- Renewable Energy Projects: Joint initiatives in green hydrogen, biofuels, and other renewable energy technologies.
Defense and Security
- Defense Meetings: Annual Joint Defence Consultative meetings and Joint Staff Talks to enhance military cooperation.
- Interoperability: Focus on increasing interoperability and cooperation in strategic regions like the Indo-Pacific.
- Cybersecurity and Counterterrorism: Enhancement of joint efforts in cybersecurity and counterterrorism, including shared practices and capacity-building.
Migration and Mobility
- Regulated Migration: Development of safe migration channels, particularly for health professionals, and promotion of skilled labor training.
- Academic and Cultural Exchange: Enhancement of mobility for students, researchers, and academics.
Cultural and Academic Cooperation
- Educational Partnerships: Encouragement of exchanges between universities and technical education institutions.
- Cultural Projects: Collaboration on cultural projects including exhibitions, heritage preservation, and film co-productions.
- Tourism and Cultural Promotion: Efforts to enhance tourism and deepen cultural bonds through the implementation of cultural cooperation programs.
-Source: The Hindu
