PM Modi meets Giorgia Meloni in Rome: High-level bilateral talks and strategic economic corridor in focus

Wide-ranging discussions underway as Prime Minister concludes his multi-nation diplomatic tour with key focus on trade, defense, and global supply chains.

ROME — Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Italian capital late Tuesday evening for the final leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour. Shortly after landing, PM Modi meets Giorgia Meloni in Rome for high-level engagements, marking his first dedicated bilateral visit to Italy. The initial meeting, which concluded over an informal dinner, saw the two leaders exchanging views on regional and global developments ahead of structured delegation-level talks.

Red carpet welcome in Rome

Upon his arrival at Rome airport, Prime Minister Modi was received by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, alongside India’s Ambassador to Italy, Vani Sarraju Rao. The Prime Minister received a ceremonial red-carpet reception from the Italian guard of honour before proceeding to his hotel, where a large gathering of the Indian diaspora and local cultural performers welcomed him with classical musical showcases.

Focus on strategic corridor

According to a post shared by the Prime Minister on social media platform X shortly after touchdown, the primary objective of the bilateral visit centers around reviewing the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Ground-level officials familiar with the matter stated that the alignment of supply chains and maritime logistical frameworks under IMEC remains a priority for both Rome and New Delhi, especially amidst continuing regional uncertainties in West Asia.

Reviewing the 5-year action plan

A key component of the formal deliberations on Wednesday will be a comprehensive review of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029. The plan spans critical sectors, including advanced technology, defense production, clean energy partnerships, and space research. Data from the Ministry of External Affairs indicates that bilateral trade between the two nations surpassed USD 16.7 billion in recent cycles, with a mutual push to escalate industrial investments in automotive, machinery, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Diplomatic engagements and global outreach

Apart from his detailed session where PM Modi meets Giorgia Meloni in Rome, the Prime Minister is scheduled to call on Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace. Official sources confirmed that the leaders will address complex geopolitical issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, maritime safety in the Indo-Pacific region, and global energy security. Additionally, the Prime Minister is slated to visit the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to reiterate India’s stance on global food security and multilateralism.

Final leg of multi-nation tour

Italy marks the conclusion of an intense five-nation tour that began on May 15. Prior to arriving in Rome, Prime Minister Modi visited the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway, where he co-chaired the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo. With formal business interactions with leading Italian industrialists scheduled for later in the day, New Delhi aims to draw substantial foreign direct investment into India’s expanding green technology and infrastructure sectors before the Prime Minister departs for India on Wednesday night.

The initial moments of the Prime Minister's arrival and the informal diplomatic greetings can be observed in this news coverage video, which outlines the key focus areas of the bilateral agenda between India and Italy.