New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after arriving in Rome for the final leg of his five-nation tour, as India and Italy prepare to deepen their strategic partnership through a fresh round of high-level talks.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in the Italian capital after concluding his visit to Norway, where India and the Nordic countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in green technology and innovation.
At Rome airport, he was received by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani before heading to his hotel, where members of the Indian community greeted him with cultural performances and enthusiastic celebrations.
Sharing his appreciation for the welcome, PM Modi said the Indian community in Italy continued to strengthen the relationship between the two countries through its strong connection with India and contribution abroad.
PM Modi met Prime Minister Meloni over dinner and later visited the iconic Colosseum alongside the Italian leader.
In a post on X, Meloni welcomed the Indian Prime Minister by calling him “my friend,” while PM Modi said the two leaders exchanged views on several global and bilateral issues and looked forward to more detailed discussions during the official talks scheduled for Wednesday.
I am very grateful to the Indian community in Italy for the warm welcome in Rome last evening.
Their deep affection for India and commitment towards strengthening India-Italy ties are truly commendable. The Indian diaspora continues to make our nation proud across the world. pic.twitter.com/YK72UPrVzZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2026
Focus on Trade, Technology and Connectivity
The visit comes at a significant moment in India-Italy relations, with both countries seeking to expand cooperation in trade, defense, clean energy, innovation, and strategic connectivity projects.
At the historic Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, the two leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration aimed at giving fresh momentum to the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. PM Modi is also scheduled to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella during the visit.
A key focus of the discussions is expected to be the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a major connectivity initiative linking India with Europe through the Middle East.
The leaders are also likely to review the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, which lays out cooperation across trade, investment, defense, science, technology, and cultural ties.
Speaking about the visit, PM Modi said the discussions would focus on strengthening cooperation across several sectors while also reinforcing India’s commitment to multilateralism and global food security during his planned visit to the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Appena atterrato a Roma, ho avuto l’opportunità di incontrare il Primo Ministro Meloni a cena, seguita da una visita all’iconico Colosseo. Abbiamo scambiato opinioni su una vasta gamma di argomenti. Attendo con interesse i nostri colloqui di oggi, durante i quali proseguiremo la… pic.twitter.com/12yt8UipaJ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2026
Strong Growth in Bilateral Relations
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, ties between India and Italy have gained strong momentum in recent years, supported by growing trade and investment flows.
Officials said bilateral trade between the two countries has crossed $16 billion, while Italian investments in India have reached nearly $3.6 billion.
The partnership has steadily expanded into areas such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defense cooperation, research, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
The MEA described the visit as another important step in strengthening India’s engagement with Europe, particularly at a time when New Delhi is seeking stronger economic and strategic partnerships with key European nations amid global geopolitical uncertainty.
PM Modi’s ongoing six-day tour, which included visits to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy, has focused on expanding India’s cooperation with strategic partners across Europe and West Asia.
The Prime Minister had previously visited Italy in June 2024 for the G7 Summit, where India and Italy agreed to further elevate bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
