![](https://www.nextias.com/ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/7435248Screenshot_6.png)
In News
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar held bilateral talks with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio in New Delhi.
Major Highlights of the talks
- They reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations including the progress in the implementation of the 2020-2024 Action Plan adopted at the Virtual Summit in November 2020.
- They also discussed the implementation of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition announced in 2021 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Italy.
- They agreed to explore partnerships in areas such as gas transportation, green hydrogen, biofuels and energy storage.
- They agreed to jointly organise an India – Italy Tech Summit on Energy Transition and Circular Economy, to be held in Delhi on 17th November.
- They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interests including Ukraine, Afghanistan and Indo-Pacific and cooperation in the multilateral forum including the G20.
- India and Italy expressed their concern on the ongoing humanitarian crisis and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
- They also underlined the importance of safeguarding the international order based on the UN Charter, with special regard to the respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
India-Italy Bilateral Relations
- Historical:
- India and Italy are ancient civilizations but young states (Italy having been reunified only in 1861).
- The classical languages, Sanskrit and Latin both belong to the Indo-European language family.
- People of these two ancient civilizations have known, interacted and traded with each other for over 2000 years.
- Italian port cities were important trading posts on the spice route.
- The Venetian merchant Marco Polo, during his travels to the east, also travelled to India in the 13th century and wrote about his Experiences.
- Political:
- Political relations between India and Italy were established in 1947.
- The two countries enjoy cordial relationships. There has been a regular exchange of visits at political and official levels between both countries.
- Trade and Investment:
- Italy is among India’s top 5 trading partners in the EU. The balance of trade has been in India’s favour since the early eighties.
- The bilateral trade witnessed a strong growth till 2007, before the world-wide recession of 2008 led to a marked slowdown in the Italian economy, which had an adverse impact on the bilateral trade.
- India ranks 19th as the country of origin of Italian imports, accounting for 1.2% of Italian imports.
- Main items of Indian exports to Italy are ready-made garments, leather, iron ore, motor vehicles, textiles, chemicals, gems & jewellery.
- Main items of import from Italy are general and special purpose machinery, machine tools, metallurgical products, and engineering items.
- Cultural Exchange:
- The agreement for cultural cooperation was signed in 1976.
- It was replaced by a new Agreement in July 2004.
- The Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between Italy and India entails exchange of students in language programmes as well as other academic courses.
- The Embassy of India launched the year-long Festival of India in Italy ‘Srijan’ on 18 Jan 2021.
- The festival aims to connect with Italians and present to them an opportunity to experience the richness of India’s architecture, history, literature and languages.
- Scientific Cooperation:
- An Agreement on S&T Co-operation has existed since 1978.
- The Agreement envisages three yearly action plans under which a maximum of thirty joint research projects can be undertaken.
- This agreement was replaced by one signed in Nov 2003.
- Some of the prime areas of joint research are Electronics, Biotechnology, Design Engineering Automotive Technologies, Energy, etc.
- Defence:
- Defence cooperation has traditionally been an important pillar of India-Italy relations. An MOU on Defence Cooperation was signed in November 1994.
- The Indian Army has a historical connection with Italy.
- The 4th, 8th and 10th Indian Divisions, with more than 50,000 troops, played a significant role in one of the bitterest advances of the allied forces for the liberation of Italy in the Second World War.
- Indian Community:
- The Indian community in Italy (estimated at 2.4 lakhs and 25000 PIOs) is the third largest community of Indians in Europe after the UK and the Netherlands.
- According to official Italian data, there are 1.65 lakhs legal Indian migrants year 2020 (As per official data with the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Year 2020) accounting 4.4% of the non-EU citizens and 5th largest foreign community in Italy.
Source:IE
Previous article
New India-France Discussions
Next article
Snow Leopard