Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi after successfully concluding his visit to Italy, marking the final leg of his five-nation official tour. India and Italy yesterday announced the upgradation of their ties to a Special Strategic Partnership, marking a major step forward in bilateral relations.

The two countries signed several agreements in areas including agriculture, critical minerals, Ayurveda, science and technology, and facilitation of mobility of Indian nurses from India to Italy.

Both nations also signed MoUs for curbing tax crimes, Money Laundering and Terror Financing.

In a Joint Press statement with his Italian counterpart, Georgia Meloni, in Rome, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Italy is renowned worldwide for design and precision, and India’s identity is that of a powerhouse of scale, talent, and affordable innovation. The Prime Minister said India and Italy will move forward on the principle of Design and Develop in India and Italy and Deliver for the World. He said the India-Italy Defence Industrial Roadmap has paved the way for co-development and co-production.

During the joint statement, the Prime Minister highlighted that both countries will work together on shipping, ports modernisation, logistics and the blue economy. Mr Modi said, India-Italy’s shared initiative against terror financing has presented an important example before the entire world.