In a significant step toward expanding bilateral cooperation, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Thursday hosted Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, for a high-level dinner meeting in New Delhi. The engagement marked a fresh boost to the increasingly active India-Italy strategic partnership, which has gained steady momentum over the past few years across trade, defence, and technology sectors.
Goyal, sharing details of the interaction on X, described the evening as both productive and symbolic, stressing that it reaffirmed the strong bond between the two nations. According to him, the discussions laid the groundwork for enhanced economic collaboration, new investments, and expanded industrial linkages.
The dinner also brought together prominent industry leaders from both countries. Top representatives from manufacturing, energy, technology, engineering, infrastructure, and defence sectors participated, contributing insights on how India and Italy could accelerate joint projects. Goyal noted that the interactions were constructive and forward-looking, particularly in areas such as green technologies, digital innovation, and resilient supply chains.
“Delighted to host H.E. Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, for a dinner to celebrate the India-Italy partnership. We held constructive discussions with Indian & Italian industry leaders on new collaborations across sectors and on building future-ready industries,” Goyal posted on X. He added that the evening “reinforced our strong friendship and opened pathways for deeper economic ties, higher investments & transformative business opportunities for both countries.”
Joint Commission Protocol Signed Earlier in the Day
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Goyal and Tajani formally signed the protocol of the India Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC). The updated protocol maps out a detailed roadmap to strengthen bilateral trade, investment flows, industrial partnerships, and technological cooperation. The signing of the protocol is being positioned as a crucial step in elevating India-Italy economic ties to the next level.
Goyal highlighted that the renewed JCEC framework will be instrumental in accelerating collaboration in priority areas and will also help India engage more effectively with the broader European Union. Italy, a founding member of the EU and the eurozone’s third-largest economy, is expected to play a key role in shaping India-EU economic conversations.
“Signed the India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation JCEC protocol along with H.E. Antonio Tajani, charting the roadmap for strengthening our economic partnership. We also witnessed the signing of industry agreements across various sectors between both sides,” Goyal shared on X in a separate post. He emphasized the importance of expanding trade, boosting investments, and enhancing industrial cooperation, noting that these steps would help unlock new opportunities under India-EU engagements, including the ongoing FTA negotiations.
Business Forum Signals Wider Cooperation
Both Goyal and Tajani travelled to Mumbai later in the day to attend the India-Italy Business Forum, a gathering of business leaders, policymakers, and institutional stakeholders. The forum focused on emerging opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, mobility, aerospace, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and AI-driven technologies.
At the event, Goyal reiterated that Italy’s partnership would become increasingly important as India and the European Union move closer to finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). With negotiations progressing, India sees Italy as a vital partner that can help accelerate consensus within the EU on key trade-related matters.
Tajani, who has been actively advocating stronger political and economic ties with New Delhi, also remarked that Italy envisions a larger footprint in the Indian market. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Italy in 2026 currently under discussion would further reinforce strategic cooperation.
Strengthening a Growing Partnership
The day’s engagements from the bilateral protocol signing to industry focused discussions and the evening dinner illustrated the expanding scope of India-Italy relations. With Italy expressing strong interest in India’s industrial growth story and India seeking deeper EU integration, the partnership appears set for a period of accelerated growth.
As Goyal summed up, the India Italy relationship is poised to open “transformative business opportunities” benefiting both economies for years to come.