India, Italy Pledge to Join Hands Against Terrorism, Sign 6 MoUs
Italian PM Gentiloni’s day-long state visit to India will be the first such visit in a decade.
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Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, 29 October, on a two-day state visit to India, the first such visit in a decade by an Italian PM, in a bid to boost ties between New Delhi and Rome.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Gentiloni, following which a number of agreements were signed.
Diplomatic ties between India and Italy virtually came to a near freeze following the February 2012 firing by two Italian marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, in which two Indian fishermen were killed off the coast of Kerala.
- India and Italy signed 6 MOUs including partnership in areas like the railway sector, energy department, and cultural cooperation
- PM Narendra Modi and Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni met CEOs to boost economic and investment cooperation between the two countries
- Gentiloni arrived in India on Sunday, 29 October, on a two-day bilateral visit
- Gentiloni will also met President Ram Nath Kovind during his visit
- Gentiloni has becomes the first Italian PM to visit India in a decade
- Romano Prodi was the last Italian Prime Minister to visit India in February 2007
India-Italy Stress International Law Must Determine Connectivity Ventures
India and Italy today emphasised that connectivity ventures must be based on international law, transparency and equality, in an oblique reference to China's One Belt One Road initiative.
"They underlined that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality and must follow principles of financial responsibility, accountable debt financing practises, balanced ecological and environmental protection, preservation standards and social sustainability," an India-Italy joint statement said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni also reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
To ramp up cooperation in the area of culture, the two leaders welcomed the signature of the in the framework of the bilateral Cultural Agreement.
The new New Executive Program of Cultural Cooperation (EPCC) would strengthen the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the areas of theatre, music, dance, festivals, publishing, cinema, youth exchanges, and through grant of scholarship programs.
India Keen to Grasp Italian Technology: President Kovind Meets Gentiloni
President Ram Nath Kovind today said India is keen to leverage Italian technology and investment for growth and development.
The president said this when Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni called on him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He said the visit has special significance for India- Italy engagement as the two countries will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2018.
He said he was happy to note that Italian companies want to invest in the Railways, auto, renewable energy and food processing sectors in India.
The president expressed happiness over the participation of Italy in the World Food India 2017 as a "Focus Country".
Italy is known as the design capital of the world, he said commending the initiative of the Italian PM to celebrate the "Day of Italian Design in the World".
India-Italy Join Hands to Fight Terorrism
India and Italy today resolved to fight terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations, as they strongly pitched for strengthening international partnership and concerted action in addressing the menace of terrorism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni also emphasised on the need for effective implementation of existing international commitments on countering terrorism, including the UN Global Countering Terrorism Strategy, UNSC resolutions and targeted sanctions relating to terrorism.
The statement comes amidst indications that China will again block at the UN, efforts to list JeM chief and Pathankot mastermind Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
Modi-Gentiloni Pledge to Boost Economic Ties
India and Italy today pledged to inject "renewed momentum" into bilateral economic engagement, especially in infrastructure, hi-tech manufacturing, textiles and automotive sectors.
The India-Italy joint statement issued after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni called for further strengthening of economic linkages between the two nations.
The two leaders committed to work in a "result-oriented and mutually beneficial manner by injecting a renewed momentum into the broad-based economic engagement between the two countries", the statement said.
Modi called upon the Italian industry to explore India's untapped business opportunities in infrastructure, food processing, renewable energy and high-tech manufacturing sectors.
Gentiloni also called upon the Indian industry to identify business opportunities in Italy's textiles, automotive, leather, machinery and chemical sectors.
India and Italy Sign Six MOUs
India and Italy signed six memorandums of understanding (MoU) clubbed under the tagline ‘partnering for progress.’ These agreements included partnership in areas like the railway sector, energy department, and cultural cooperation.
In his joint address with the Italian Prime Minister, Modi said that in March 2018, India and Italy will be completing 70 years of diplomatic relations. The two PMs released commemorative stamps to mark the occasion, the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.
PM Modi and Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni Address Joint Press Conference
"Discussed several aspects of cooperation between India and Italy in our detailed meetings today," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a joint statement with Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni, on Monday, 30 October.
Praising the strong ties between India and Italy, Modi said there is potential for both the countries to take bilateral trade beyond $8.8 billion.
He said both the nations are committed to fight terror unitedly and work towards cyber security.
Modi said they are also committed to increasing tourism and people-to-people ties between India and Italy.
"Our requirements in sectors like smart cities, food processing, pharmaceuticals and infrastructure match the expertise and capabilities of Italy," Modi stated, adding that Italy would be the focus country in the World Food India to be held in November.
The statement said, “PM Gentiloni also called upon Indian industry to identify business opportunities, including in Italy's textile, automotive, leather, machinery and chemical sectors”.
The Italian Prime Minister also highlighted his country's commitment to the Make inIndia initiative through the activities of the 628 Italian companies which have invested over $2.4 billion and provide employment to over 23,000 people in India.
According to the statement, both leaders announced the organisation of an Indo-Italian High Level Forum on Design, with a focus on industrial design, auto design, architecture, interior design, and fashion.
PM Modi, PM Gentiloni Interact With Indian and Italian CEOs
Modi and Gentiloni met 12 Indian and 19 Italian business leaders to boost economic and investment cooperation between the two countries, Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted.
In a bid to boost business relations with Italy, the Indian industry called for institutionalising a roundtable of company chief executives from both countries that would meet on a regular basis, IANS reported.
According to a release from industry chamber FICCI, its president, Pankaj Patel, "proposed institutionalising a CEOs roundtable with Italy that would meet regularly or on the sidelines of the Joint Commission meetings to cross-pollinate India-Italy trade and investment relations.”
PM Gentiloni Calls On PM Modi
Gentiloni meets Modi for bilateral talks.
PM Gentiloni Meets Sushma Swaraj
The Italian Prime Minister met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Monday.
Later in the day, PM Modi will hold delegation-level talks with his Italian counterpart, following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed, IANS reported.
Gentiloni will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
Gentiloni, Wife Visit Rajghat
PM Gentiloni and his wife Emanuela Mauro pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
'Common Interests in the Global Arena'
“We have strong economic relations (with India) and it is a great opportunity to make them stronger,” said Gentiloni, adding that India and Italy have common interests in the global arena.
PM Gentiloni Meets PM Modi
Prime Minister Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind welcome Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, after according them a ceremonial reception.
PM Paolo Gentiloni Arrives in India
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, 29 October, on a two-day state visit to India, the first such visit in a decade, in a bid to boost ties between New Delhi and Rome after the face-off over two Italian marines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold delegation-level talks with Gentiloni on Monday, 30 October, following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.
Gentiloni will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu during his visit.
PM Gentiloni Set to Arrive in Delhi – First in a Decade
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni is set to arrive in Delhi on a day-long state visit on Monday, 30 October, the first such visit in a decade, in a bid to boost ties between New Delhi and Rome after the face-off over two Italian marines.
Romano Prodi was the last Italian Prime Minister to visit India in February 2007.
In a statement ahead of Gentiloni’s visit, the External Affairs Ministry said:
A 15-member Italian CEO delegation will be accompanying Prime Minister Gentiloni. Narendra Modi his counterpart will interact with the CEOs of the two countries on Monday, following delegation-level talks.
Frosty India-Italy Relations Look For a Thaw
Diplomatic ties between India and Italy virtually came to a near freeze following the February 2012 firing by two Italian marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, from MV Enrica Lexie, killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala.
India took the marines into custody, though Italy claimed the ship was in international waters and the case should be handled by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (Itlos) at The Hague.
In September 2014, Latorre was allowed to return to Italy on health grounds following a Supreme Court order. In May 2016, Girone too was allowed to return. Both the marines are now in Italy awaiting an order from the Itlos.
The stand-off between New Delhi and Rome affected the talks for a free trade pact between the European Union and India.
(With inputs from IANS)
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