Italy, India Trade Relations

By Andrea Bottega

Italy is one of India’s most important trading partners in the European Union (EU).

Through a series of trade delegations and government-led trade initiatives, the Italian authorities have succeeded in establishing a dynamic relationship with India predicated on political, economic and scientific cooperation.

Find Business Support

Business Intelligence

Bilateral trade between both nations witnessed a strong growth until 2007, when the global recession led to a marked slowdown in the Italian economy.

However, with new economic reforms taking place in both countries, bilateral trade is showing new signs of growth.

In the year 2016 financial year (FY), for example, trade between India and Italy rose to US$8.80 billion.

Bilateral trade: A snapshot

Italian businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the vast opportunities offered by the Indian market.

Indeed, trade between Italy and India is rising at a growth rate of 30 percent.

In 2016, Italian exports into India amounted to US$3.9 billion dollars; Indian exports into Italy accounted for US$4.9 billion dollars. Italian businesses see India as an increasingly attractive trading partner.

Diplomatic engagement creating new trade opportunities

On October 30, 2017, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, the first time an Italian Prime Minister has made a diplomatic visit to India since 2007.

Relations between the two nations had soured in 2012 when on-duty Italian marines mistook two Indian fishermen for pirates, killing both men off India’s southern coast.

Gentiloni’s visit to India represents a conscious attempt to rekindle diplomatic ties and strengthen bilateral trade.    

During the diplomatic meeting, Gentiloni and Modi inked six Memorandums of Agreement (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation in the following fields:

• Energy;
• Railroad safety;
• Bilateral investment;
• Joint training programs for foreign services;
• Cultural exchange; and
• Diplomatic ties.

Improved bilateral ties between Italy and India are paving the way for increased economic cooperation.

In May, 2017, the India-Italy Joint Economic Commission met in Rome – establishing joint working groups in the following areas:

• Infrastructure;
• Tourism;
• Railways;
• Food Processing;
• Renewable Energy;
• Information Technology; and
• Agriculture. 

In 2016, the India Italian Joint Committee, established under the Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement, approved several initiatives and projects to encourage cooperation in the sectors of science, technology and innovation with emphasis on sustainable agriculture, health care, biotechnologies and nanotechnologies.

Find Business Support

Corporate Establishment and Structuring

This brand of ‘science diplomacy’ acts as a stimulant to bilateral trade: creating dialogue and new networks. India’s recent US$7 million investment into two energy beamlines at the Sincrotrone of Trieste is a testament to the opportunities strengthened engagement between Italy and India can produce. 

Doing Business in India

India has made impressive strides in improving the ease of doing business.

India remains one of the most competitive countries in South Asia, ranked 40th in the global competitiveness ranking of 137 countries by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

National competitiveness is defined as a set of institutions, policies and factors that determine a country’s level of productivity. Improvement across most pillars of competitiveness, particularly infrastructure and higher education, reflects recent public investments in these areas.

Strides in labor market efficiency, especially the nation’s ability to attract and retain talent, has also improved India’s WEF 2017 ranking.

Recently, the Government of India has launched a series of initiatives to facilitate investment, foster innovation, and build best in class manufacturing infrastructure in the country.

These programs aim to attract foreign direct investment by eliminating excessive regulations and fostering a culture of bureaucratic transparency.

India can be the ideal partner for Italian companies looking to expand into emerging markets.

Italian companies are actively participating in the Make in India campaign by offering collaborations in areas such as food processing, infrastructure, heavy machinery, renewable energy, advanced technology, as well as information and communication technology.

In approximate 800 Italian companies are already active in India.

As engagement between the two nations continues to strengthen, Italian businesses looking to expand globally will come to see India as a natural choice.  

• Previous Article Aadhaar Linking in India – Now a Mandatory Requirement
• Next Article Demonetization in India: Masterstroke or Gross Miscalculation?