Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029

1. On November 18, 2024, during their meeting at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed to deepen their countries' strategic partnership.
2. They decided to take focused actions under a Joint Strategic Action Plan for the period of 2025-2029.
3. This meeting marked the 5th between the two leaders in the past two years, with their previous discussions taking place in June 2024 in Puglia, Italy, during the G7 Summit.
4. The action plan is aimed at further strengthening the India-Italy Strategic Partnership over the next 5 years, focusing on economic growth, security cooperation, and innovation.

I. Political Dialogue:

1. Regular Meetings: India and Italy will hold regular meetings between the Heads of Government, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Defence, including at multilateral events.
2. Annual Bilateral Consultations: The two countries will continue yearly consultations between their Foreign Ministries at the Senior Officials’ level, to strengthen bilateral ties.
3. Deepen Cooperation: There will be more interactions between different Ministries to expand cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

II. Economic Cooperation and Investments

1. Joint Economic Commission: Both countries will work through the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation and the Italy-India Joint Working Group on Food Processing to boost trade and investment.
2. Targeted Sectors: Key sectors to focus on include:
   • Transportation, agriculture products, machinery, chemical-pharmaceuticals, wood, furniture, green technologies, and sustainable mobility.
3. Trade Fairs & Business Forums: India and Italy will support trade fairs, business forums, and collaboration between industrial associations and chambers of commerce.
4. Industrial Partnerships: Both sides will promote industrial partnerships in areas like automotive, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure.

III. Connectivity

1. Sustainable Transport: India and Italy will cooperate on sustainable transport solutions that support environmental sustainability and climate action.
2. Maritime and Land Infrastructure: The two countries will enhance cooperation on infrastructure, particularly through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and aim to finalize an agreement on maritime and port cooperation.

IV. Science, Technology, IT, Innovation, and Start-ups

1. Emerging Technologies: Cooperation will grow in critical technologies, such as telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and digital services.
2. Industry 4.0 & Clean Energy: The two countries will work together on Industry 4.0, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and critical mineral extraction.
3. Research Collaboration: India and Italy will increase research collaborations, particularly in areas like the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), as well as STEM education and scholarships.
4. Start-ups and Innovation: The countries will foster links between start-ups and innovation ecosystems in areas such as fintech, edutech, healthcare, agritech, logistics, and green energy.
5. Indo-Italian Innovation Exchange: An Indo-Italian Innovation and Incubation Exchange Programme will be launched to promote scientific innovation and start-up collaboration.
6. Executive Programme for Cooperation: The Executive Programme for scientific and technological cooperation will be implemented from 2025 to 2027, focusing on joint projects and mobility programs.

V. Space Sector

1. Space Collaboration: India’s ISRO and Italy’s ASI will deepen cooperation on Earth observation, heliophysics, and space exploration, with a special focus on lunar science.
2. Commercial Collaboration: Both countries will explore commercial space partnerships, involving both large industries and start-ups.
3. Delegation Exchange: A mission with representatives from the Italian space industry will visit India by mid-2025 to discuss research, space exploration, and commercial collaboration.

VI. Energy Transition

1. Tech Summits: Tech Summits will be organized to share best practices and encourage industrial partnerships in green technologies.
2. Joint R&D: The two countries will facilitate technology advancements and joint research in renewable energy, biofuels, green hydrogen, and energy efficiency.
3. Renewable Energy Cooperation: They will give momentum to the Joint Working Group on Renewable Energy to advance their collaboration.
4. Global Biofuels and Solar Alliances: India and Italy will work to strengthen the Global Biofuels Alliance and the International Solar Alliance.
5. Innovative Grid Solutions: Information exchange on renewable energy grid solutions and regulatory aspects will be prioritized.

VII. Defence Cooperation

1. Joint Defence Consultations: Joint Defence Consultative (JDC) meetings and Joint Staff Talks (JST) will be held yearly to coordinate defence cooperation.
2. Indo-Pacific Maritime Cooperation: The two countries will enhance maritime cooperation, particularly in search and rescue and pollution response at sea.
3. Co-Production of Defence Platforms: India and Italy will explore technology collaboration and co-production of defence platforms and equipment.
4. Defence Industrial Roadmap: They will create a Defence Industrial Roadmap and promote an MoU between the Indian Defence Manufacturers and the Italian Aerospace, Defence, and Security Federation (AIAD).
5. Defence Research Collaboration: There will be regular interactions in defence research, involving scientists and technical experts from both sides.

VIII. Security Cooperation:

1. Cybersecurity and Cybercrime: India and Italy will strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity and cybercrime, with regular dialogues and capacity-building activities.
2. Terrorism Cooperation: Both countries will hold yearly meetings to combat international terrorism and transnational crime.
3. Judicial and Police Cooperation: They will share information and best practices for counterterrorism, including through capacity-building programs for police and security personnel.
4. Protection of Classified Information: An agreement will be concluded to protect and exchange classified information.

IX. Migration and Mobility:

1. Safe Migration: India and Italy will promote safe and legal migration channels and improve labour training and recruitment procedures. A pilot project for training health professionals in India for employment in Italy will be launched.
2. Countering Irregular Migration: Both countries will cooperate to counter irregular migration.
3. Academic Mobility: They will increase mobility of students, researchers, and academics, including agreements between higher education authorities.

X. Culture, Academic, and People-to-People Exchanges:

1. University Cooperation: India and Italy will expand cooperation between their universities and higher education institutions, focusing on technical and vocational education.
2. Cultural Exchange: Cultural initiatives such as exhibitions and partnerships between museums will be promoted.
3. Film Collaboration: Both countries will work on increasing film co-productions and film-making activities.
4. Heritage Preservation: Cooperation will be enhanced in the preservation and restoration of heritage sites and buildings.
5. Tourism Growth: Efforts will be made to increase tourist flows between India and Italy.
6. Community Contributions: Both countries will recognize the contributions of their Indian and Italian communities in promoting bilateral ties.
7. Cultural Cooperation Programme: The Executive Programme of Cultural Cooperation, signed in 2023, will be implemented.

India-Italy Bilateral Relations Political Relations Establishment of Relations: Diplomatic ties between India and Italy were established in 1947. 2020 Virtual Summit: A Virtual Summit in November 2020 between PMs of India and Italy resulted in the adoption of a 2020-2025 Action Plan. PM Modi's Visit (October 2021): PM Modi visited Italy for the G20 Summit and announced a Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition. PM Giorgia Meloni's Visit (March 2023): The Italian Prime Minister paid a State visit to India. She was also the Chief Guest at the 8th Raisina Dialogue 2023. During this visit, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership. Economic Relations Bilateral Trade (2023): Trade between India and Italy amounted to €14.34 billion in 2023. India's Exports to Italy: €9.16 billion India's Imports from Italy: €5.18 billion Trade Surplus for India: €3.98 billion Italy's Position as a Trading Partner: Italy is India's 4th largest trading partner in the EU after Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Italy is the 18th largest foreign investor in India, with a cumulative FDI inflow of USD 3.53 billion (2000-2023). Indian Investment in Italy: Estimated at USD 400 million. Defence Relations Historical Significance: India has a significant "footprint" in Italy due to the contributions of Indian soldiers during World War II. By 1945, 5,782 Indian soldiers died in Italy, and six were awarded the Victoria Cross. Maritime Security: In February 2023, Italy deployed an official to the Information Fusion Center – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to enhance maritime security and support anti-piracy efforts. Joint Defence Cooperation: India and Italy are exploring joint production in defence and aerospace sectors, as well as technology transfers. Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: A Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism exists between the two countries. Energy Cooperation Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition: In 2021, India and Italy signed an agreement to collaborate on energy transition, focusing on green hydrogen and biofuels. Science and Technology Cooperation India-Italy Innovation Day: The first India-Italy Innovation Day was held virtually on 14th July 2021. The event has been celebrated annually since then, highlighting innovation partnerships between the two countries. Indian Community in Italy Community Size: The Indian community in Italy is estimated to be 180,000 (including Persons of Indian Origin, PIOs), making it the third largest Indian diaspora in Europe after the UK and the Netherlands.