Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held significant discussions on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on Sunday. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in areas such as trade, investment, technology, artificial intelligence, defence, and security.

Meloni expressed her solidarity with India following a recent terror incident in Delhi and reaffirmed Italy's commitment to combat terrorism. The leaders adopted the "India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism," which aims to improve cooperation against terror networks and strengthen coordination in international platforms like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF).

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders reviewed the progress of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership, noting advancements in trade, investment, defence, and cultural exchanges. They expressed satisfaction with the ongoing Joint Strategic Action Plan for 2025-29, which is expected to benefit both nations.

The trade between India and Italy is projected to reach approximately USD 15 billion for the 2023-2024 period, with Italian Foreign Direct Investment in India amounting to around USD 4 billion since 2000. Meloni also voiced strong support for the AI Summit that India plans to host in 2026.

The meeting highlighted the successful business forums held earlier this year in New Delhi and Brescia, which saw active participation from industry leaders. Modi and Meloni discussed further cooperation in business, technology, and innovation, aiming to enhance economic competitiveness and build resilient supply chains.

Additionally, they appreciated the recent visit of an Italian space delegation to India, which is expected to foster collaboration in the space sector. The leaders reiterated their commitment to uphold shared values of democracy and sustainable development while continuing to engage in global and multilateral platforms.