India and Italy deepen Strategic and Maritime Partnership, reinforce commitment to IMEC connectivity vision

ROME : India and Italy have reaffirmed their strong commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation across strategic, economic and maritime domains, with a renewed focus on strengthening maritime connectivity and advancing the ambitious India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative aimed at reshaping global trade and supply chain networks.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reviewed the progress on the India-Italy Joint Strategy Action Plan 2025-2029. “The talks with Prime Minister Meloni were excellent. Her commitment to furthering the India-Italy friendship is commendable. Bilateral ties between our nations have advanced significantly in sectors like trade, space, technology and more. In order to further deepen linkages, we have elevated our ties to a Special Strategic Partnership.We agreed that investment and economic linkages have to be strengthened even further. The India-EU FTA presents a historic opportunity to do so. We even talked about areas such as digital infrastructure, connectivity, science, AI and more “, PM Modi tweeted.

Marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations, both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Maritime Transport and Ports, paving the way for enhanced collaboration in port development, maritime logistics, shipping connectivity, sustainable transport systems and maritime infrastructure modernization.

To ensure the timely and effective implementation of the agreement, India and Italy have also agreed to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG), which will facilitate institutional cooperation, identify priority projects and accelerate collaborative initiatives in the maritime sector.

The developments underscore the growing strategic convergence between the two nations and their shared vision of building resilient, diversified and efficient global connectivity corridors.

During his visit to Rome, PM Modi held wide-ranging discussions with President Sergio Mattarella, reviewing the multifaceted India–Italy partnership and exploring new avenues for cooperation under the broader framework of the India–Italy Strategic Partnership.

The leaders discussed expanding collaboration in key areas including trade, investment, advanced manufacturing, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties, while emphasizing the importance of fostering innovation-led economic growth.

Prime Minister Modi and President Mattarella also explored future cooperation in emerging and high-technology sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), critical minerals, space technology, clean energy and civil nuclear cooperation, recognizing the strategic importance of these sectors in shaping the global economy of the future.

The two leaders acknowledged the immense potential of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a transformative, multi-modal connectivity initiative designed to improve trade flows, logistics efficiency, digital integration and energy connectivity between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

India and Italy highlighted the critical role of ports, shipping and maritime infrastructure in supporting IMEC’s successful implementation and reiterated their determination to work closely in developing secure, sustainable and future-ready transport ecosystems.

The strengthening India–Italy partnership reflects the deepening alignment between the two democracies on economic resilience, sustainable development, technological innovation and global connectivity, while opening new opportunities for bilateral business engagement and maritime cooperation.

The latest engagements are expected to further enhance commercial linkages, strengthen supply chain integration and elevate India–Italy relations to new strategic heights in the years ahead.