With an aim of strengthening India’s global economic partnerships, India and Italy have decided to elevate their relationship to a special strategic partnership and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, and new technologies, following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni.
Ahead of bilateral talks, PM Modi called on Italian President Sergio Mattarella and discussed different aspects relating to India-Italy friendship, including trade, investment and cultural linkages. They also discussed collaboration in areas such as AI, critical minerals, space and nuclear energy. Earlier, Modi said that his visit would focus on ways to strengthen cooperation between India and Italy, with particular attention to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
India and Italy have witnessed growing economic engagement in recent years, with bilateral trade reaching Euro 14.25 billion in 2025. India's exports stood at Euro 8.55 billion, while Italian exports to India were recorded at Euro 5.70 billion in 2025, marking an increase of 9.42 per cent over 2024. The two countries have set a target of annual bilateral trade of Euro 20 billion by 2029. Italy is India's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union and has identified India as one of the priority countries under its global trade strategy.
