South Asia is an area with huge potential for economic development and growing importance in international relations. With approximately 2 billion inhabitants, the region’s seven countries currently account for 25% of the world’s population: India (over 1.4 billion), Pakistan (275 million), Bangladesh (175 million), Nepal (30 million), Sri Lanka (22 million), Bhutan (approximately 800,000), and the Maldives (500,000). Italy boasts a diplomatic and consular network in the region, including the Embassies in New Delhi (with secondary accreditation in Nepal), Islamabad, Dhaka, and Colombo (with secondary accreditation in the Maldives). There are also Italian Consulates General in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangalore, a Consulate in Karachi, as well as the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, and those in Islamabad (ITA and AICS).
Italy-India relations are governed by the Strategic Partnership launched on March 2, 2023, in New Delhi by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Prime Minister Modi. This is reflected in the ten priority sectors of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29, adopted by the two Heads of Government on November 18, 2024, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro: political dialogue; economic cooperation and investment; connectivity; science, technology, IT, innovation, and start-ups; space; energy transition; defence; security; migration and mobility; culture, academic and people-to-people exchanges, cinema, and tourism. Since 2022, trade in goods has exceeded €14 billion annually. India is among the high-potential markets in the Italian Export Action Plan launched in 2025: in Asia, it is our second-largest trading partner (after China). Italy is an integral part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project, to strengthen Indo-Mediterranean connectivity.
Italy and Pakistan are linked by the Strategic Engagement Plan (signed in Rome on February 1, 2013), which aims to frame political and economic cooperation, inter-Parliamentary interactions, exchanges between companies and universities, and consular and migration cooperation. Trade amounts to approximately €1.5 billion. There is strong convergence on UN Security Council reform: Pakistan is an integral part of the “Uniting for Consensus” group, of which Italy is the focal point.
Relations with Bangladesh have intensified following the recent meetings between Prime Minister Meloni and interim Chief Adviser Yunus. Italy supports the sensitive reform process underway and shows concern for the country’s democracy, human rights, rule of law, and pluralism. Current trade amounts to approximately €2 billion annually.
A new chapter in relations with Sri Lanka was opened with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a mechanism for political consultations in Colombo on September 4, 2025, during the visit of Undersecretary of State Tripodi. The main areas of cooperation include political dialogue, defence and the economy, with annual trade of over €700 million, primarily in textiles and tourism.
Italy-Nepal cooperation is strengthened by the mechanism for bilateral consultations, established in Kathmandu on October 10, 2022.
Italy recognized the Maldives in 1966 and has always enjoyed a very positive image in the archipelago, thanks in part to investment in the tourism sector.