Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will be on a mission to India starting tomorrow, between New Delhi and Mumbai, to strengthen bilateral relations and dialogue on issues of political and economic interest.
In New Delhi, Minister Tajani will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reaffirm the growth of Italian-Indian relations within the framework of the Strategic Partnership launched in 2023.
During his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the implementation of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 will be reviewed and the next objectives in the priority areas of cooperation will be defined.
In his meeting with the National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, Minister Tajani will explore the prospects for collaboration on the IMEC corridor, as well as short-term operational initiatives, such as the creation of a fast-track corridor for customs clearance.
In New Delhi, the Minister will also participate in the works of the UNESCO Committee that will decide on the inclusion of Italian Cuisine in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
On 11 December, the mission will continue in Mumbai. Minister Tajani, along with the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, will chair the Italy-India Business Forum, the first in Mumbai and the third in 2025, following those in New Delhi (April) and Brescia (June). The Forum will focus on economic cooperation in the automotive, renewable energy, sports technologies, and agri-food sectors, with the participation of CDP, SIMEST, SACE, ITA, and Confindustria, among others. Trade between Italy and India reached €14.3 billion in 2024, with exports of €5.2 billion (+0.8%) and imports of €9.1 billion (-0.4%). Prime Minister Meloni called on Modi to reach €20 billion annually by 2029.
The Business Forum also envisages meetings with representatives of the Indian “Unicorn startups” and the Italy-India Entrepreneurs’ Association. The large size of its market, as well as the country’s high GDP growth rates, make India one of the most promising countries in the “Action Plan for Italian Exports to High-Potential Non-EU Markets.” With robust economic growth (+6.5% in 2024) and a growing population (1.4 billion, e.g. one-sixth of humanity), India provides many opportunities for Italian companies, especially in the high-tech, machinery, space, defence, infrastructure, renewable energy, and digitalization sectors.