President's Secretariat
30-October, 2017 19:32 IST
Prime Minister of Italy calls on the President
His Excellency Mr Paolo Gentiloni, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (October 30, 2017).
Welcoming the Prime Minister of Italy to India, the President said that his visit is taking place 10 years after the visit of Prime Minister Prodi. And this visit holds very special significance for India-Italy engagement, as the two countries will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2018.
The President added that India and Italy are ancient civilisations and have interacted with each other for ages. He stated that the economic partnership between India and Italy is strong. However, there is potential to do more. India’s reform initiatives, including efforts at ease of doing business and GST, offer business opportunities to Italian companies. Infrastructure development in India itself is a US $ 1 trillion opportunity. India is keen to leverage Italian technology and investment for its growth and development. He was happy to note that Italian companies want to participate in the railways, auto, renewable energy and food processing sectors in India. He stated that Indian companies are also looking for opportunities in Italy.
The President said many commonalities bind India and Italy. Our relations are anchored in the shared values of democracy and rule of law. We have a large Indian diaspora in Italy. India deeply appreciates Italy’s recognition of their contribution to socio-economic progress. Our people-to-people connect is ever growing. There are over 2000 Indian students in Italy today. With so much that we share and jointly aspire for, our ties must continue to strengthen.
The President said we are very happy that Italy would be participating at the World Food India 2017 as a ‘Focus Country’. He stated that Italy is known to be the design capital of the world. He commended the personal initiative of Mr Gentiloni to celebrate the ‘Day of Italian Design in the World’. He added that this year the event, held in over 100 cities across the globe, was a big success. And we look forward to jointly celebrating the event in India next year.
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Vice President's Secretariat
30-October, 2017 19:44 IST
Terrorism is a global concern that demands global attention and requires global cooperation: Vice President
Interacts with Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni
The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Terrorism is a global concern that demands global attention and requires global cooperation. He was interacting with the Prime Minister of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, who called on him, here today.
The Vice President said that India believes in an early conclusion of negotiations and the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations.
He further said that we also need to coordinate our action at the forthcoming meeting of the Financial Action Task Force and ensure that designated individuals and entities have no access to property and financial services. We must ensure that Pakistan continues to remain under the Asia Pacific Group and Financial Action Task Force monitoring, he added.
The Vice President thanked for Italy’s support which led to India’s eventual membership in the MTCR. Membership of the NSG remains a priority for Indian Government and we look forward to Italy’s continued support for India’s membership of the NSG, he added.
The Vice President said that the bilateral trade between India and Italy is at US$8.7 billion (Rs. 57,878 crores), which is below potential. He further said that India’s unprecedented reform initiatives including ease of doing business, flagship programs and roll out of the Goods and Services Tax offers unlimited business opportunities to Italian companies.
The Vice President said that Climate Change is a very important issue for the two countries and India ratified the Paris Agreement on 3rd October 2016. We have a renewable energy target of 175 Giga Watts by 2022, launched the International Solar Alliance initiative and are working on a road map for introducing all electric vehicles beginning 2030.
The Vice President said that many Italians take active interest in Indian culture, cuisine, music, dance, Yoga and Ayurveda. We will be happy to collaborate with Italy in enhancing the understanding of traditional systems of Indian medicines, he added.
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Prime Minister's Office
30-October, 2017 15:57 IST
List of MoUs/Agreements signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Italy to India (October 30, 2017)
S. No.
Name of MOU
Italian Signatory
Indian Signatory
1.
Joint Declaration of Intent of Cooperation for Safety in the Railway sector between India and Italy
Mr. Renato Mazzoncini, CEO & General Manager, Italian Railways
Mr. Ved Pal Additional Member (Planning), Railway Board
2.
MoU on 70 years of diplomatic relations between Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Government of the Republic of Italy
Mr. Lorenzo Angeloni, Ambassador of Italy to India
Ms. Riva Ganguly Das, DG ICCR
3.
MoU on cooperation In the field of Energy between India and Italy
Mr. Lorenzo Angeloni, Ambassador of Italy to India
Mr. Anand Kumar, Secretary, MNRE
4.
Executive Protocol on Cultural Cooperation between India and Italy
Mr. Lorenzo Angeloni, Ambassador of Italy to India
Ms. Reenat Sandhu, Ambassador of India to Italy
5.
MoU between the Training Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Government of the Republic of Italy and the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of the Republic of India
Mr. Lorenzo Angeloni, Ambassador of Italy to India
Mr. J. S. Mukul, Dean, FSI
6.
MoU for promoting mutual investments between Italian Trade Agency and Invest India
Mr. Michele Scannavini President, Italian Trade Agency
Deepak Bagla. CEO, Invest India
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The Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat, in Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni paying homage at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat, in Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni being received by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni being received by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni inspecting the Guard of Honour, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi introducing the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni to Indian Dignitaries, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi introducing the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni to Indian Dignitaries, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni at the delegation level talks, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni at the delegation level talks, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on October 30, 2017.