The visit to New Delhi by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani and Minister for University and Research Anna Maria Bernini, which concluded on April 12, marked an important milestone in the relationship between Italy and India and in the implementation of the joint Strategic Action Plan signed by Prime Ministers Meloni and Modi last November.
“Italy and India are united by deep bonds of friendship, shared values, and a close political dialogue. My commitment is to work towards strengthening and expanding the foundations of the strategic partnership between our countries,” said Tajani during his meeting with President Murmu.
At the heart of the visit the intensification of political dialogue (with numerous institutional visits already carried out or planned) and economic and scientific cooperation, with a strong emphasis on innovation.
“India plays a crucial role in global affairs,” Tajani noted during political consultations with Foreign Minister Jaishankar. “It is a strategic market for our businesses and exports. It is at the core of the Export Plan I recently launched. Both of us are key players in the IMEC initiative, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, of which India and Italy, with the port of Trieste, are natural terminals,” added the Deputy Prime Minister.
Tajani also recalled the many visits of Italian Navy units to Indian ports (two more planned between May and June) as a demonstration of the attention given to the Indo-Pacific. He highlighted the appointment of Ambassador Talo’ as the Special Envoy for IMEC and announced the organization of a summit in Trieste with the Foreign Ministers of the countries involved in the project.
Together with Minister Jaishankar and Minister of Commerce and Industry Goyal, the Deputy Prime Minister presided over a large Business, Scientific, and Technological Forum focused on high value-added and technology-intensive sectors: industry and agriculture 4.0; infrastructure (including digital), transport, and mobility; renewable energy; frontier technologies, aerospace and security; innovation and start-ups.
Around 500 Italian and Indian companies, along with numerous start-ups and industrial associations, held direct meetings (400 B2B) and B2G interactions with Delhi government agencies and representatives between April 10 and 11. Italian CEOs exchanged ideas and projects with their Indian counterparts. “The goal,” said Tajani at the end of his meeting with Minister Goyal, “is to strengthen trade between our economies, diversify supply chains, and give new momentum to bilateral trade. This also includes concluding the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.”
Numerous initiatives were launched in the framework of the Ministers’ visit. On the economic front, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Simest, and Investindia signed an MoU to encourage reciprocal investments and trade exchange. Deputy Prime Minister Tajani inaugurated the SIMEST (Italian internationalization agency) office at the Embassy, which will have a dedicated fund of €500 million to support Italian companies in developing business and investments in India. SACE (Italian export-credit agency) increased its push-strategy fund by €200 million (which has so far guaranteed up to €3 billion in loans to Indian buyers).
Tajani also announced the creation of an Innovit Bangalore center to foster synergies between start-ups and innovation ecosystems. Start-ups, accelerators, universities, and venture capital funds discussed this during a specific session of the Business Forum. The dialogue will continue with an acceleration program promoted in Bangalore by the Italian Trade Agency Office in New Delhi this autumn, in the framework of the Global Startup Program.
Italian companies announced new investments in India totaling over €470 million and the opening of two Tech Centres. Tajani and Goyal agreed to meet again in Brescia on June 5 for a Growth Forum involving businesses from both countries.
On the science, research, and technology front—another key pillar of the bilateral partnership—Deputy Prime Minister Tajani announced a strengthening of the Italian team in India. A space attaché will be assigned to the Embassy in Delhi to ensure continuity in space dialogue between Governments. A second science attaché will take office at the Consulate General in Bangalore. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian Department of Science and Technology signed the 2025–2027 Executive Protocol on scientific cooperation, selecting several joint projects. Minister Bernini and Science Minister Singh signed a Memorandum of Understanding on joint projects and researchers mobility. These agreements will allow for deepened collaboration in areas such as biomedical robotics, green energy, AI, quantum technology, infectious diseases, carbon capture, gene therapy, and cultural heritage preservation.
The first Science and Innovation Dialogue brought together many of the best research centers and universities from both Italy and India, represented by their respective rectors, to map potential synergies in cutting-edge areas: quantum technology, big data, biotechnology, advanced materials, space and astrophysics, and renewable energy.
There was also a strong focus on culture, sports, and food and wine. Deputy Prime Minister Tajani, alongside Foreign Minister Jaishankar, inaugurated the Magdalene in Ecstasy exhibition (the first time ever for a Caravaggio in India). He also opened the Mosaico exhibition at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum—a virtual journey through 2,000 years of history across Rome, Pompeii, Ravenna, Palermo, Monreale, Piazza Armerina, and Baia, featuring beautiful original pieces from the Capitoline Museums. The Fabrica exhibition (highlighting Italian textiles between tradition and innovation) and the Genes Mundi tapestries by artist Daniela Papadia offered a preview of the upcoming fashion days in October.
The presence of the President of Veronafiere, Vinitaly, and Michelin-starred chef Enrico Derflingher contributed to promote the candidacy of Italian cuisine as UNESCO intangible heritage, which will be decided in Delhi next December.
The exhibition Italy and India: A Journey Through Friendship showcased the long-standing relationship between the two countries through ANSA (Italian Press Agency) images. CEO De Alessandri announced the opening of a permanent office in Delhi and the launch of a dedicated ANSA-India portal.
Tajani, joined by football World Cup champion Marco Materazzi, also launched the A Common Goal initiative, which will bring Serie A club coaches to teach football to underprivileged children in various Indian cities. At the same time, cricket coaches (thanks to an agreement between the two federations) will conduct intensive training programs in Italy.
