India and Italy unveiled an ambitious five-year Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 on Tuesday, aimed at deepening cooperation in critical sectors such as space, science and technology, defence, and economic partnerships. The announcement followed a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the plan focuses on fostering targeted, time-bound initiatives across diverse areas of mutual interest. The two leaders agreed to bolster political-level interactions and intensify engagements between ministries to deepen collaboration across all sectors of common interest.

India and Italy plan to leverage the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation and the Italy-India Joint Working Group on Food Processing to expand bilateral trade, enhance market access, and promote investment. Key areas of focus include transportation, agricultural products and machinery, chemical pharmaceuticals, wood and furniture, food processing, packaging, and green technologies.

Both nations will prioritise industrial partnerships and technological advancements in sectors such as automotive, semiconductors, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

The plan includes expanding cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, telecom, and digital services. The Indo-Italian Innovation and Incubation Exchange Programme will be launched to foster scientific innovation through collaboration among academic and research institutions.

New areas of focus include clean energy, critical minerals extraction, and advanced manufacturing, with an emphasis on creating value chain partnerships and involving academia and industries from both countries.

India and Italy aim to strengthen ties between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Italian Space Agency. Future collaborations will focus on Earth observation, heliophysics, lunar science, and space exploration. Commercial space projects involving large industries are also planned. By mid-2025, an Italian space delegation will visit India to discuss research and commercial collaborations.

Acknowledging Italy's growing interest in the Indo-Pacific region, the two countries aim to enhance interoperability and cooperation between their forces. A roadmap for defence industrial collaboration will be negotiated, focusing on co-development and co-production of defence platforms and equipment.

The MEA noted plans for a memorandum of understanding between the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers and the Italian Industries Federation for Aerospace, Defence, and Security to foster industrial cooperation. To promote fair migration and employment practices, both countries will initiate a pilot project focusing on training health professionals in India for subsequent employment in Italy.

India and Italy also seek to strengthen ties in the entertainment industry, with plans to boost film co-productions and encourage filmmaking in each other’s countries.

The comprehensive action plan reflects the shared commitment of India and Italy to strengthen bilateral ties through strategic cooperation, innovation, and mutual growth across diverse sectors. The MEA highlighted that the initiatives under the plan would pave the way for a stronger and more collaborative partnership.