External Affairs Minister of India (EAM), Dr. S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Italy from 02-03 November 2023 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy. During the visit, EAM called on President of the Italian Republic, H.E. Sergio Mattarella and held delegation level talks with his Italian counterpart Mr. Antonio Tajani. He also met Minister of Defence, Mr. Guido Crosetto and Minister of Enterprises & Made in Italy, Mr. Adolfo Urso. He addressed the Joint Committees of External and Defence Affairs, and EU Affairs in the Italian Senate, and also interacted with prominent think-tanks and thought leaders.
2. President Mattarella during his meeting with EAM, reiterated his strong support to advancing of bilateral ties as well as deepening of India-Italy and India-EU linkages. EAM’s meeting with Defence Minister, Crosetto focused on deepening strategic cooperation including industrial collaboration in defence manufacturing (following the recently signed MoU on Defence Cooperation), and in areas of counter terrorism, cyber security and maritime domain. With Minister Urso, he discussed ways to promote bilateral trade and investment, with focus on areas of agro-tech, engineering, digital infrastructure, innovation and space.
3. EAM and FM Tajani reviewed the entire gamut of India-Italy Strategic Partnership. They expressed happiness at steady growth in diverse areas of our bilateral cooperation including regular high level exchanges and interaction, economic collaboration, defence and security, S&T, culture and people to people connect. Both sides agreed that there is huge potential for further increasing collaboration in areas of Renewable Energy, IT & Startups, digital infrastructure, innovation, Artificial Intelligence, cyber and space. The economic partnership between our two countries that are among top 10 economies is important for diversification of global supply chain, given their respective strengths.
4. The Ministers deliberated upon the important regional and international developments, India’s successful G20 Presidency in Delhi, Italy’s upcoming G7 Presidency, India-EU relations, Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific, the conflict in Ukraine, and the situation in West Asia. EAM appreciated Italy for joining the key India-led global initiatives such as ISA, CDRI, IPOI, Global Bio-Fuels Alliance and India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), reflecting growing convergence of our views on important global issues. Both sides hoped for the early conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations. FM Tajani also congratulated India for the successful lunar landing of "Chandrayaan – 3” and evinced interest for deeper cooperation between ISRO and Italian space agency, ASI.
5. EAM and FM Tajani inked two (2) significant Agreements on Migration and Mobility Partnership, and Executive Programme on Cultural Cooperation for the period 2023-27. These will provide major boost to mobility of youth and skilled workers in a safe and legal manner, thereby promoting people to people ties, trade and tourism.
6. EAM also held interaction with members of Indian community, India-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group and senior dignitaries of Italian Government.
7. EAM’s visit to Italy further consolidated the long-standing historical ties between the two countries, and pushed bilateral cooperation in diverse areas of our Strategic Partnership including on contemporary global issues and challenges.
Rome
November 03, 2023
