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ROME: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni snapped selfies at the Colosseum and enjoyed views over Rome before their talks, which focused on trade, on Wednesday.
In a video posted to X, Meloni also expressed gratitude to Modi for bringing a packet of “Melody” toffees during his visit, with both leaders sharing a laugh over the gift—a playful nod to their names.
Concluding a European tour, Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday for his first bilateral visit to Italy in 26 years.
Modi’s previous visits to Italy included attending G20 meetings in 2021 and G7 summits in 2024.
In an editorial published in Italy’s Corriere della Sera, the leaders expressed their goal to “surpass the 20 billion euro ($23 billion) trade target with Italy by 2029.”
They highlighted sectors of particular interest: defense, aerospace, automotive parts, clean energy technologies, and textiles.
“We aim to create a strong synergy between Italian design, manufacturing expertise, and cutting-edge supercomputers, alongside India’s rapid economic growth, engineering talent, scale, innovation, and entrepreneurial culture,” they stated.
Last year, bilateral trade between Italy and India reached approximately €14.25 billion, according to the Indian embassy in Italy.
Later Wednesday, the leaders are scheduled to hold private discussions at Villa Pamphili, a historic 17th-century estate located west of Rome’s city center.
Modi also mentioned on X that he plans to visit the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, underscoring India’s commitment to multilateralism and global food security.
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