Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strengthened bilateral ties during their meeting at the G20 Summit in Brazil, advancing the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 on Monday. The discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in defence, trade, technology, and cultural exchanges, with special emphasis on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
Both leaders agreed to boost trade and investment in sectors such as transportation, green technologies, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing through the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation and the Working Group on Food Processing.
A new Indo-Italian Innovation and Incubation Exchange Programme has also been introduced to foster academic and industrial collaboration, particularly involving startups and SMEs.
The partnership will expand to critical technologies like artificial intelligence and digitalization, with the implementation of the 2025-27 Executive Programme for Scientific and Technological Cooperation. In the space sector, enhanced ties between ISRO and ASI include plans for an Italian delegation visit to India in 2025.
Energy transition efforts include organizing “Tech Summits” and strengthening alliances like the Global Biofuels Alliance and International Solar Alliance. Defence cooperation will grow with annual Joint Defence Consultative (JDC) meetings, the creation of a Defence Industrial Roadmap, and collaboration on cybersecurity.
Cultural and academic ties will see increased university exchanges, film co-productions, and heritage preservation efforts, along with the implementation of the 2023 Executive Programme of Cultural Cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi underscored the significance of the partnership, saying that the India-Italy friendship holds great potential to contribute to global progress.