"India, Italy partnership to benefit all of humanity," says PM Modi
New Delhi, May 21
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the results of his visit to Italy, saying they would ensure better commercial opportunities.
In a post on X, he said, "A special strategic partnership that will not only benefit our nations but also all of humanity! The results of my visit to Italy will ensure greater connections for investments, better commercial opportunities, stronger cultural ties, and more."
The visit saw elevation of India-Italy relations to the level of Special Strategic Partnership, India-Italy Defence Industrial Roadmap, India-Italy Joint Declaration of Intent on strengthening the bilateral Defence Industrial Cooperation.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the cooperation between the Italian Corps of the Guardia di Finanza (GDF) and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), India was signed. MoU between the Ministry of Mines of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security of the Italian Republic for cooperation in the field of critical minerals was signed.
Celebration of 2027 as the "Year of Culture and Tourism between India and Italy", JDI between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Health of the Italian Republic on facilitation of Mobility of Nurses from India to Italy was signed.
MoU between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the Italian Republic on development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat, India and Indo-Italian Roadmap on Higher Education and Research was signed.
MoU between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of the Italian Republic on cooperation on Maritime Transport and Ports, MoU between the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests of the Italian Republic on cooperation in agriculture, MoU between the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Association of Italian seafood companies (ASSOITTICA ITALIA) were outcomes of the visit.
MoU between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Point srl Milan (Italy) on cooperation and collaboration in the field of Ayurveda, MoU between IITM, Pune and CMCC, Italy, Letter of Intent between Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, Italy, MoU between Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy were also signed.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and PM Modi expressed satisfaction on growing engagements between researchers and scientific institutions from both countries. They welcomed ongoing collaboration between the Italian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation, and efforts to strengthen commercial space collaboration. They also called for greater collaboration in the fields of AI, Semiconductors, critical minerals and other cutting-edge technologies, synergising India's talented workforce and Italy's technological prowess, as stated in a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Reiterating their strong commitment to combat the scourge of terrorism, both leaders agreed to continue cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels. They expressed satisfaction at the implementation of Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism adopted in November 2025.
Both leaders expressed their keen desire to build connectivity infrastructure through concrete projects and reaffirmed their commitment for the implementation of the India - Middle East - Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The two leaders also exchanged views on global and regional issues of mutual interest, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, India-EU relations, and the conflicts in West Asia and Europe. Prime Minister underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflicts.
Both leaders expressed concern over the ongoing war in Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering and negative global consequences. They agreed to continue to support efforts towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy, in accordance with the international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
Noting the impressive growth and deepening of India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further expand cooperation across all sectors and continue close high-level consultations on key global and regional developments.
Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Meloni for the warm hospitality extended by the government and the people of the Italian Republic and invited Prime Minister Meloni to visit India at a mutually convenient time.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive list of agreements! The mobility of nurses to Italy is a big step — many Indian healthcare workers will benefit. But I hope the cultural exchange doesn't just stay on paper; we need real people-to-people connections.
As someone who follows geopolitics, the Indo-Italy partnership is gaining steam. The defence roadmap and maritime collaboration at Lothal are particularly interesting — that site will be a world-class heritage complex. Good to see India expanding its European ties beyond the usual suspects.
"Benefit all of humanity" — that's a big claim, but the AI, semiconductors, and space collaboration could genuinely drive innovation. However, let's not forget that implementation is key. India has signed dozens of MoUs; we need to track their progress.
Loved the focus on IMEC and counter-terrorism cooperation! Italy is a key EU player, and this strategic partnership makes perfect sense. The defence industrial roadmap will boost Atmanirbhar Bharat too. Well played, PM Modi! 👏
The health sector MoU for nurse mobility is a practical win — many qualified Indian nurses deserve global opportunities. But I'm skeptical about the "Year of Culture 2027" hype; we need actual tourism infrastructure and visa facilitation to make it work.
M < We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.