Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni planted a Black Mulberry sapling in Rome on Wednesday under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative, symbolising environmental consciousness and the growing cultural connection between India and Italy.
The plantation ceremony took place during PM Modi’s visit to Italy as part of his five-nation diplomatic tour. The Black Mulberry tree, known as “Krishna Toot” in India, holds culinary, medicinal and cultural significance in both countries.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the plantation represented another step in promoting sustainability and shared environmental responsibility between the two nations.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh also shared images of the initiative, describing the planting of the mulberry sapling as a symbol of sustainability, cultural connection and a greener future.
The event came alongside high-level bilateral talks between PM Modi and Meloni, during which the two leaders elevated India-Italy ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership.”
In a post on social media, PM Modi described his discussions with Meloni as “excellent” and praised her commitment to strengthening India-Italy relations. He noted that cooperation between the two countries had expanded significantly in sectors such as trade, space and technology.
PM Meloni, in her remarks, said the partnership between India and Italy was acquiring a “new and enhanced dimension” at a time of major global changes. She highlighted the growing engagement between the two countries through frequent political and institutional exchanges.
According to the MEA, the two Prime Ministers reviewed progress under the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029 and agreed to further strengthen collaboration across trade and investment, defence, science and technology, space, artificial intelligence, energy, education, culture and people-to-people ties.
Both sides also agreed to establish a Foreign Minister-level mechanism to regularly review the implementation of the strategic action plan.
The leaders welcomed the growing momentum in bilateral economic ties and reiterated their goal of expanding India-Italy trade to Euro 20 billion by 2029. They also discussed leveraging opportunities arising from the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement and called for its early implementation.
PM Modi’s Italy visit marked the final leg of his five-nation diplomatic outreach, which also included visits to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway between May 15 and May 20.
(With ANI inputs)
