ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Wednesday that India and Italy will collaborate to further develop the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Speaking during a joint press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rome, Meloni emphasized that IMEC holds significant potential to strengthen trade, investment, and supply-chain resilience linking Europe, the Middle East, and India.
In a major push for bilateral ties, Meloni also announced that 2027 will be celebrated as the “Year of Culture and Tourism” between the two nations. This initiative is designed to promote cultural exchanges, deepen mutual understanding, and strengthen diplomatic dialogue between the two ancient civilizations.
Strategic and Geopolitical Alignment During their meeting, Meloni highlighted the natural geopolitical alignment between India and Italy, noting their respective strategic locations in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions. Both leaders discussed key global challenges, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the situation in West Asia, and reiterated their shared support for diplomatic solutions and lasting peace.
Emphasizing maritime security, the Italian Prime Minister stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and stated that both countries strongly support a free, open, and inclusive regional order in the Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Rome marks the final leg of his extensive five-nation tour, which also included strategic stops in Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates.
