Strengthening the technological and industrial partnership; developing investments in strategic sectors; promoting a model of virtuous cooperation between West and East, also exploiting the potential of IMEEC, a corridor between India and Europe.
These are the main takeaways that emerge from the visit to Mumbai and New Delhi by the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, the first government representative in India after the signing of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“With India,” Urso noted, “we want to consolidate a win-win cooperation. We are aware of the opportunities offered by this country, which is in continuous demographic and economic growth. India can be a gateway for Italian companies interested in the Asian markets. But we believe that Italy can be a great opportunity for India and its companies, too. Italy is well suited to host investments and industrial partnerships, both on a bilateral level as well as in the framework of the European single market . The goal should be that of creating synergies capable of fostering mutual growth, making the most of both Countries’ technologies,” the Minister said.
During his visit to India, Minister Urso first took part in the events organized in Mumbai on the occasion of the Vespucci ship’s stopover: a panel on FDI attraction, a dialogue-session on Space and Blue economy, and another one on the opportunities arising from the IMEEC project.
He then visited Villaggio Italia and its various exhibitions, including “Italia geniale,” a showcase of creativity and design. With the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, he discussed the shipping and marine industry, as well as the development of ports, from recreational ports to 300-million-ton giants docks.
In New Delhi, he outlined the opportunities for investing in Italy at the Partnership Summit organized by CII and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. He then met with the Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal; the Minister of Science, Technology and Space Jitendra Singh; and the Minister of Mining and Coal G. Kishan Reddy. Between Mumbai and the capital, Urso had also meetings with India’s largest industrial groups and Italian companies.
The visit confirmed a common intent by Italy and India to explore further scope for economic and industrial collaboration, particularly in sectors of strategic importance, such as steel, automotive, new technologies, critical raw materials, blue economy, advanced manufacturing, recycling industry, energy and space.
While highlighting the features that make Italy a solid and reliable economic partner worldwide, Minister Urso called for a renewed and shared drive to deepen the partnership via greater bilateral investments and joint initiatives between Institutions and business communities of both India and Italy.
Moreover, as he recalled his mandate as main Italian Authority delegated to Space, Minister Urso pointed out the Italian Government’s decision to invest 7.3 billion euros over the next five years in the space sector.
Related to this, it is planned to send a second scientific attaché to work at the Consulate General of Italy in Bangalore, the capital of IT and space research in India.
