Italy's Deputy PM Tajani calls India a 'long-trusted friend' and 'priority' during visit

Key facts

• Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani is on a three-day visit to India.
• The visit aims to further reinvigorate the economic partnership between the two countries.
• India is described as a 'long-trusted friend' and a 'priority' for Italy.
• The Italian foreign ministry has launched a dedicated financing line to India of Euro 500 million to support Italian companies.
• Italy and India unveiled an ambitious five-year strategic action plan in November last year.
• The volume of annual bilateral trade between Italy and India is around Euro 14 billion.
• Italy fully backs the India-European Union (EU) free trade agreement (FTA).