“More Italy in India. And more India in Italy. Trade, investments, industrial partnerships. Two economies that are increasingly integrated, eager to seize the many synergies between our ecosystems and the opportunities offered by the recent EU–India free trade agreement. You are the protagonists of this story of friendship and collaboration, destined to write another chapter marked by ever more ambitious achievements.”
With these words, Italy’s Ambassador to India, Antonio Bartoli, addressed Italian entrepreneurs attending the Business Conclave organized in Pune, Maharashtra, by the Embassy, the Consulate General in Mumbai, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in India.
The event envisaged direct interactions with representatives of around forty Italian companies already present in or interested in India. It provided an exchange of experiences and best practices betwen enterpreneurs and Italy’s diplomatic and consular network in the country, with the aim of jointly identifying objectives, strategies, and investment and commercial expansion opportunities in the Indian market—the world’s largest by population and one of the fastest-growing in terms of GDP.
Alongside the Embassy, Consulate General, and Chamber of Commerce, agencies of the “Sistema Italia” – ITA/Italian Trade Agency, SACE, and SIMEST – were also present.
“On Made in Italy Day, we celebrate together the excellence of Italian know-how in a country-continent rich in challenges but also opportunities. From automotive components to industrial machinery, from advanced manufacturing to the agri-food sector, including innovation, medical devices, engineering services, the textile industry, and many other sectors. We have strong cards to play. Italy can take on an increasingly central role in the Indian economy. Cutting-edge, high-quality technological solutions. Tradition and efficiency. We have a great capital of reliability and credibility that we must leverage. We stand alongside our companies, supporting their interests and goals.”
India is among the focus countries of the export plan launched by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who visited Delhi and Mumbai twice during 2025. In recent months, several measures and initiatives have been introduced to support the internationalization of Italian businesses in India.
These include the opening of a SIMEST office at the Italian Embassy in New Delhi and the launch of a financing line dedicated to India worth over €500 million to support market entry and joint ventures. There has also been renewed commitment from SACE, already active in the country with credit insurance operations exceeding €2 billion. Additionally, new offices of the Italian Chamber of Commerce have been opened in Gujarat and New Delhi. More than 700 Italian companies currently operate in India, with production plants or representative offices.
“Trade between Italy and India has doubled in seven years. But there is still significant room for growth. We aim high—more trade and more investment—to create integrated and resilient value chains, benefiting our business systems and industries, which are linked by complementarities and similar business models.”
During his visit to Pune, Ambassador Bartoli also held field visits to facilities of some major Italian companies operating in India, such as Ferrero, Brembo, and Piaggio.
