In a significant move to bolster their strategic ties, India and Italy are deepening their bilateral relationship, capitalizing on shared democratic values and complementary economic strengths. This enhanced cooperation is set to unlock new opportunities in agriculture, technology, and healthcare, sectors that are crucial for both nations’ growth and development.
The elevation of their partnership to a Strategic Partnership in March 2023, followed by the launch of the ambitious Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 in November 2024, marks a pivotal moment in India-Italy relations. This roadmap, endorsed by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni, outlines a vision for fostering innovation, economic growth, and mutual prosperity. With a bilateral trade volume exceeding $14 billion, the stage is set for a new era of collaboration that promises to be transformative.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of both economies and a key pillar of India-Italy cooperation. Italy, renowned for its production of wine, olive oil, and fruit, brings a wealth of expertise in food processing and sustainable farming practices. India, with its vast agricultural landscape and burgeoning demand for value-added products, offers a fertile ground for collaboration. The Joint Strategic Action Plan emphasizes joint ventures in food processing, aiming to help Indian farmers increase the value of their produce through advanced technologies and best practices. Recent high-level discussions, including those during Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani’s visit to New Delhi, highlighted Italy’s potential to support India’s agricultural sector. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the scope for Italian technologies in food processing and light engineering to enhance India’s rural economy. Initiatives like the “Cotton Road” project could streamline agricultural trade and logistics, benefiting grassroots farmers. Moreover, the Indo-Italian joint committee has approved collaborative projects in sustainable agriculture, focusing on precision farming and environmental resilience. These efforts align with India’s goal of doubling farmers’ incomes and Italy’s commitment to sustainable food systems, creating a mutually beneficial partnership.
Technology is at the heart of the India-Italy partnership, with both countries prioritizing cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and biotechnology. On April 11, 2025, India and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost science and technology cooperation, spearheaded by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and Italy’s Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini. The agreement outlines 10 research initiatives and 10 collaborative projects, focusing on AI, high-performance computing, and Industry 4.0. This MoU builds on a long-standing scientific collaboration, formalized in 1978 and renewed through programs like the India-Trento Programme for Advanced Research (ITPAR). Italy’s innovation-driven industries, renowned for their design and quality, complement India’s vast technical manpower and burgeoning startup ecosystem—the third largest globally. Joint initiatives in space technology, including earth observation and heliophysics, are also gaining traction, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Italian Space Agency (ASI) signing agreements to expand cooperation. The India-Italy Business, Science, and Technology Forum, held in New Delhi in April 2025, underscored the potential for co-production and knowledge exchange. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar noted that Italy’s technological expertise and India’s “Make in India” initiative create a robust platform for collaboration, particularly in clean energy, supercomputing, and defense technology.
Healthcare cooperation between India and Italy is gaining momentum, driven by a shared commitment to innovation and public health. A 2017 MoU on health sector cooperation facilitates the exchange of doctors, training, and the establishment of healthcare facilities. This framework supports joint research in infectious diseases, biotechnology, and medical education, leveraging Italy’s advanced healthcare systems and India’s pharmaceutical prowess. The Indian diaspora in Italy, numbering over 200,000 and the largest in the European Union, plays a vital role in healthcare, with many professionals active in hospitals and research institutions. This community strengthens people-to-people ties, fostering collaboration in medical training and service delivery. Recent discussions have explored opportunities for Italian companies to invest in India’s healthcare infrastructure, particularly in medical device manufacturing and telemedicine. The Joint Strategic Action Plan emphasizes co-production in pharmaceuticals, aiming to combine Italy’s research capabilities with India’s cost-effective production to address global health challenges.
The strengthening of India-Italy ties comes at a time of global economic shifts and geopolitical realignments. Bilateral trade reached €14.34 billion in 2023, with India enjoying a trade surplus of €3.98 billion. Italy is India’s fourth-largest trading partner in the EU, with over 600 Italian companies
