India - Italy Relations Moving Closer - Aspirant Learning

India – Italy relations moving closer as both countries foreign ministers meet at New Delhi and discuss global issues like Ukraine war, energy sector , G – 20 summit.
The India – Italy relation meeting was held on the sidelines of the Nordic Summit and the Indian Prime Minister visited bilateral talks with Nordic countries and France that shows India – Europe relations are getting better.
The India – Italy relation meeting also discussed concerns on the ongoing humanitarian crisis and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
They also underlined the importance of safeguarding the international order based on the UN Charter, with special regard to the respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Ministers discussed implementing the “India-Italy Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition” announced last year during the Prime Minister’s visit to Italy for the G-20 meeting, and also discussed cooperating at multilateral organisations, including the G-20.
They agreed to explore partnerships in areas such as gas transportation, green hydrogen, bio fuels and energy storage. In addition, they agreed to jointly organise an India – Italy Tech Summit on Energy Transition and Circular Economy, to be held in Delhi on November 17, 2022,”.

India – Italy relation traces its roots about 2000 years ago but modern bilateral relation evolved by establishing bilateral relation by 1947.

Historical Relation
- For almost 2000 years, people from these two ancient civilizations have known, communicated, and traded with one another. In the spice trade, Italian port cities were key commercial posts.
- During his journeys to the east in the 13th century, Venetian trader Marco Polo visited India and wrote about his experiences.
- During World War II, Indian troops serving with the British Indian Army were stationed in Italy. The Rajputana Rifles and the Gurkha Rifles were among them.
- In Somaliland and Abyssinia, the 10th Indian Division took part in the East African Allied War against the Italians.

Political Relation
- India and Italy first established diplomatic ties in 1947.
- Both countries have a friendly relationship.
- Both countries have had a regular exchange of visits at the political and official levels.
- Share common platforms like G20 and UN.

Economic Relations
- Italy is India’s fifth largest trading partner among EU nations.
- The petrochemical, plastic, textile, and steel industries propel Indian exports to Italy. Italy’s exports to India account for 1% of the country’s total imports.
- Italy is the 27th largest global supplier to India, and the 10th largest market for Indian exports.
- Between April 2000 and June 2018, Italy’s investment in India totaled slightly less than $3 billion.
- Ready-made clothes, leather, iron ore, motor cars, textiles, chemicals, gems and jewellery are the most common Indian exports to Italy.
- General and special purpose machinery, machine tools, metallurgical materials, and engineering items are the most common imports from Italy.
- Trade
  - India – Italy has free trade agreement and Annual turnover is around $8 billion USD, with roughly $1 billion USD going to India.

Defence Relation
- In 2018, the Joint Defence Committee was formed to improve and foster “organised engagement” between Indian and Italian defence companies.
- Italy backed India’s “intensified engagement” with nonproliferation regimes such as the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group, and the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG), which bolster global nonproliferation efforts.
- Support against anti terror operation.
- Exercise – Maritime Partnership Exercise , PASSEX

Science and Tech Relation
- Since 1978, there has been a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement.
- The agreement calls for three annual action plans, with a total of thirty partnered research projects possible.
- Electronics, biotechnology, design engineering, automotive technologies, energy, and other fields of cooperative study are among the most important.

Cultural Relations
- After the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, Italy has the third largest Indian community in the European Union, with an estimated 1,80,000 people.
- In 1976, a cultural cooperation agreement was struck.
- It comprises the Italy-India Cultural Exchange Program (CEP), which involves student exchanges in language programmes and other academic courses.
- Similar religion in both region that Christanity

Lower trade between both countries is a irritant in India – Italy relation.
The Enrica Lexie Case — In 2012, two Indian fishermen were killed by Italian marines. The incident was a huge blunder, and the tragedy immediately became politicized.
Italy’s current political instability – the country is in a hazardous position – with a nationalist, naturalist, near-fascist on one side and a populist movement on the other.

Pic Courtesy : Times of India , Frontline – The Hindu, Indian Express

Content Source : The Hindu

India – Italy Relations Moving Closer