Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Italy on Tuesday for the fifth and final leg of his five-nation tour. He was received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani.
"Landed in Rome, Italy. I will be meeting President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and holding discussions with them," Modi posted on X.
The visit will focus on boosting India-Italy cooperation, with particular emphasis on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The two countries will also review the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029.
IMEC, established through a 2023 memorandum involving partners including the European Union and the United States, aims to develop trade routes connecting India to the Arabian Gulf and onwards to Europe.
Meanwhile, welcoming Modi, Prime Minister Meloni shared a candid picture of the two leaders at the Colosseum, captioned: “Welcome to Rome, my friend!”
Modi and Meloni enjoy a cordial relationship, with #Melodi trending at gatherings featuring the two leaders. The friendship also underpins a strategic partnership between India and Italy.
According to Reuters, Modi and Meloni are expected to adopt a joint declaration to further strengthen bilateral ties, including annual heads-of-government summits and a target of €20 billion ($23.2 billion) in trade by 2029.
The leaders will also attend a working lunch with senior executives from leading Indian and Italian industrial groups to discuss ways to enhance economic, trade, and investment cooperation.
This marks Modi’s first bilateral visit to Italy, following his attendance at the G7 summit in June 2024 and a G20 meeting three years earlier.