India and Italy elevate ties to Special Strategic Partnership on 20 May 2026

Key facts

• India and Italy upgraded bilateral ties to a Special Strategic Partnership and set a target to increase bilateral trade to €20 billion by 2029.
• Both nations reaffirmed support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and planned a ministerial meeting in 2026.
• The leaders launched INNOVIT India, an innovation hub for collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, healthcare, logistics, and fintech.
• A Defence Industrial Roadmap was adopted for the co-development and co-production of helicopters, naval systems, and electronic warfare.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Italian Space Agency will expand cooperation in Earth observation, heliophysics, and space exploration.
• Agreements were signed on critical minerals, agriculture, maritime transport, and ports, with investment pledges in automotive, semiconductors, clean technology, pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, infrastructure, and critical minerals.
• The joint declaration condemned the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and discussed mechanisms to facilitate the movement of Indian nurses to Italy.