PM Modi arrives in Rome for final leg of five-nation tour; meeting with Italian PM Meloni, bilateral cooperation on agenda

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday (local time) for the final leg of his five-nation tour, where he is scheduled to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella, hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and participate in diplomatic engagements before departing for India on Wednesday.In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Landed in Rome, Italy. I will be meeting President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and holding discussions with them. This visit will focus on how to boost India-Italy cooperation, especially focusing on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 will also be reviewed. I will also be visiting the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and strengthening India’s commitment to multilateralism as well as global food security.”The visit comes at a time when India and Italy are expanding cooperation across trade, investment, defence and security, clean energy, innovation, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges under the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $16.77 billion in 2025, while cumulative FDI stood at $3.66 billion between April 2000 and September 2025.PM Modi had previously visited Italy in June 2024 to attend the G7 Summit.Before arriving in Rome, the prime minister was in Oslo, Norway, where he participated in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit and held engagements aimed at strengthening India’s partnership with Nordic nations.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a post on X, said, “PM Narendra Modi departs from Oslo after a successful visit encompassing important outcomes which opens a new chapter in India-Nordic and India-Norway partnerships. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplanes for Rome for his last leg of the 5-country visit.”During the summit in Oslo, PM Modi met leaders from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in green technology, climate action, trade, innovation, artificial intelligence, Arctic research and defence collaboration.India and the Nordic countries also elevated their ties to a “Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership”, reaffirming their commitment to deeper cooperation based on shared democratic values and sustainable development goals.Norway marked the fourth leg of PM Modi’s five-nation visit. Before visiting Oslo, he had travelled to the UAE, the Netherlands and Sweden.