Why in news?

India and Italy outlined their vision for deepening bilateral cooperation in the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29. The document covers various key sectors, including defence, trade, energy and space. This Action Plan was issued after a meeting between PM Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of G20 summit in Brazil.

What’s in today’s article?

• India-Italy bilateral relation
• Key Highlights of Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029

India-Italy bilateral relation

• Political Relation
  • Political relations were established in 1947.
  • In November 2020, during a Virtual Summit between PMs of India and Italy, 2020-2025 Action Plan was adopted.
  • PM Modi paid his first official visit to Italy in Oct. 2021 to attend the G20 Summit.
  • During this visit, a Joint Statement announcing a Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition was issued.
  • In March 2023, PM of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, paid a State visit to India. She was also the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 8th Raisina Dialogue, 2023.
    • During this visit, India and Italy announced the elevation of the bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership.
• Economic Relation
  • In 2023, bilateral trade between India and Italy amounted to €14.34 billion.
    • India's exports to Italy were €9.16 billion, while imports from Italy stood at €5.18 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of €3.98 billion in India’s favor.
  • Italy is India's 4th largest trading partner in EU, after Germany, Belgium and Netherlands.
  • Italy is the 18th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative FDI inflow of USD 3.53 billion from January 2000 to December 2023.
    • Indian investment in Italy is estimated around USD 400 mn.
• Defence
• India has a huge "footprint" on Italian soil because of the supreme sacrifice made by Indian Soldiers during the Second world war and for the sake of freedom in Italy.
  • By 1945, a total of 5782 Indian soldiers died in Italy with as many as six of them receiving the VICTORIA CROSS.
• In February 2023, Italy deployed an official from its Embassy to the Information Fusion Center – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to strengthen maritime security and support anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean Region.
• India and Italy are also exploring joint productions in defence and aerospace sectors as well as technology transfers.
• India and Italy also have a Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism.
• Energy cooperation
  • In 2021, Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition was inked to advance collaboration on areas like green hydrogen and bio-fuels.
• Cooperation in Science and Technology
  • The first India-Italy Innovation Day was held virtually on 14th July 2021. Since then, both the countries are celebrating this event every year.
• Indian Community in Italy
  • Estimated at 180,000 including PIOs, it is the third largest community of Indians in Europe after UK and the Netherlands.

Key Highlights of Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029

• Political Dialogue
  • Regular meetings between Heads of Government, Foreign, Trade, and Defence Ministers.
  • Annual bilateral consultations between the two Foreign Ministries.
  • Intensify ministerial-level meetings to enhance sectoral cooperation.
• Economic Cooperation and Investments
  • Strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and joint ventures in high-potential sectors (e.g., green technologies, sustainable mobility, food processing, semiconductors).
  • Promote trade fairs, business forums, and industrial partnerships.
  • Advance collaboration in automotive, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.
• Connectivity
  • Collaborate on sustainable transport and climate action.
  • Enhance maritime and land infrastructure cooperation, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
  • Finalize a maritime and port cooperation agreement.
• Science, Technology, IT, Innovation, and Start-ups
  • Expand partnerships in critical technologies like AI, telecom, and digital services.
  • Explore Industry 4.0, clean energy, and critical minerals initiatives involving academia and SMEs.
  • Enhance STEM research collaborations, scholarships, and joint projects.
  • Launch the Indo-Italian Innovation and Incubation Exchange Programme.
• Space Sector
  • Expand ASI-ISRO collaboration on Earth observation, heliophysics, and lunar exploration.
  • Promote peaceful outer space usage and commercial space partnerships.
  • Organize an Italian space delegation visit to India by mid-2025.
• Energy Transition
  • Organize "Tech Summits" to foster industrial partnerships.
  • Collaborate on green hydrogen, biofuels, and renewable energy solutions.
  • Support the Global Biofuels Alliance and International Solar Alliance.
• Defence Cooperation
  • Hold annual Joint Defence Consultative meetings and Joint Staff Talks.
  • Enhance interoperability and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Develop a Defence Industrial Roadmap and MoU between SIDM and AIAD.
  • Focus on maritime cooperation and defence research.
• Security Cooperation
  • Enhance cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and capacity-building efforts.
  • Hold yearly Joint Working Group meetings on international terrorism and crime.
  • Share best practices and conclude agreements on classified information protection.
• Migration and Mobility
  • Promote safe migration channels and labour training, with a pilot project for health professionals.
  • Enhance student, researcher, and academic mobility.
  • Counter irregular migration effectively.
• Culture, Academia, Cinema, and Tourism
  • Foster exchanges between universities and technical education institutions.
  • Collaborate on exhibitions, heritage preservation, and restoration projects.
  • Promote film co-productions and enhance tourism.
  • Strengthen cultural bonds and implement the 2023 Executive Programme of Cultural Cooperation.