By News On Air May 20, 2026
India-Italy ties have expanded with unprecedented momentum in recent years and have now reached a decisive stage. In a joint article written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, the two leaders highlighted that relations between the two countries have evolved from a cordial friendship into a Special Strategic Partnership rooted in the values of freedom, democracy and a shared vision for the future.
The leaders noted that at a time when the global order is undergoing profound changes, the India-Italy partnership is being guided by regular exchanges at the highest political and institutional levels. They said the partnership is acquiring a new dimension by combining the economic dynamism, societal creativity and centuries-old civilisational wisdom of both nations.
The two leaders said their cooperation reflects a shared understanding that prosperity and security in the 21st century will depend on the ability of nations to innovate, manage energy transitions and strengthen strategic sovereignty.
In the article, published in two national dailies, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening and diversifying bilateral ties by pursuing new goals and leveraging complementary strengths. They said the two countries aim to build strong synergy between Italy’s design and manufacturing excellence and India’s rapid economic growth, engineering talent, scale, innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurial strength, which includes over 100 unicorns and around two lakh start-ups.
The leaders added that this partnership is not merely an integration of strengths, but a co-creation of value in which the industrial capabilities of both countries complement and reinforce each other.
The leaders said the proposed Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union will pave the way for greater trade and investment flows in both directions. They expressed confidence in achieving and surpassing the target of 20 billion euros in bilateral trade by 2029, with a focus on sectors such as defence, aerospace, clean technologies, machinery, automotive components, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agri-food and tourism.
In the article, both leaders noted that technological innovation lies at the core of the partnership. They underlined that the coming decades will be shaped by advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals and digital infrastructure.
They said India’s dynamic innovation ecosystem and highly skilled workforce, along with Italy’s advanced industrial capabilities, make cooperation in these sectors both natural and strategic. The leaders added that growing collaboration between universities and research centres in the two countries will further strengthen the partnership.
They also noted that India’s digital public infrastructure model is gaining recognition in many countries, particularly across the Global South.