The recent visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India marked a crucial moment in bilateral relations in the field of industrial partnership enabling marriage between manufacturing sectors, including defence industrial complex.India is the world’s fifth-largest economy, with a GDP close to $3 trillion in 2022, and, according to some analysts, it will become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027. With a young and growing population of more than 1.4 billion, India becomes, in 2023, the most populated country in the world. Moreover, 107 Indian “unicorns” witness the vibrant side of the economic Indian system.

On the other hand, Italy is the second manufacturing power in Europe, showcasing the excellence of advanced manufacturing all over the world, especially in India. Italian companies have a unique innovative capacity, often appreciated by Indian partners.

Above all, our bilateral trade has dramatically grown over the last two years, reaching unprecedented levels and recording a more than encouraging milestone of 14.9 billion euros in 2022, with a 42% growth over 2021, which already recorded a record year (10.5 billion euros, well above pre-Covid levels). Italian imports, amounting to 6.7 billion euros, represent the main component of the bilateral trade flow, with a percentage change of +52.4% over the previous year. Exports to India have been also growing, with +24.2% over 2021. This makes our trade with India the second biggest one for Italy in the Indo-Pacific region.In the framework of the reconfiguration process of global value chains, Italy is increasingly looking to India as an important partner in pursuing its strategy of supply chain consolidation and diversification.

The Joint Declaration signed by Prime Minister Meloni and Prime Minister Modi outlines the contours of the strategic partnership, by deepening bilateral collaboration in sectors such as energy transition, digital connectivity and advanced manufacturing and opening it up in others, such as defence. Italian and Indian companies can thus count on a wide-ranging and updated policy framework, in the wake of the one provided by the Action Plan 2020-2024.

In the defence sector, the expectation on both sides for an effective revival of cooperation is alive, both through joint training initiatives and from the industrial point of view, where Italy is ready to showcase its advanced technological solutions.Interest in India from our industry is more tangible than ever. This was confirmed by the wide and qualified participation of our companies in the business roundtable, chaired by deputy prime minister and foreign minister Antonio Tajani and Indian minister Goyal, during the visit. Moreover, it has been evidenced by the agreements signed by some of our important companies with Indian partners, in the context of the visit.

As of today, there are about 700 Italian companies in India, of which 300 have production plants employing about 50,000 people. Our goal will be to encourage an increase in the presence of Italian companies in India, as also emphasised by our minister Tajani and wished by minister Goyal, by promoting “friend-shoring” initiatives and new joint ventures as well.

Moreover, they can rely on a structured financial support mechanism, namely provided by SACE and SIMEST. With its Push Strategy, SACE has in India the largest exposure in Asia in terms of transactions.

SIMEST is the export and internationalisation hub of the CDP Group (the Italian Development Bank) which brings together all the instruments to support Italian companies wishing to compete and grow in India. It operates through loans aimed at internationalisation, export credit support and capital investments.

(The writer is Italy’s Ambassador to India)

Even as he lent his support to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi post his disqualification, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called on the Congress to support regional parties in order to defeat the BJP in 2024. The SP chief is also willing to re-assess its long standing policy of not fielding candidates from Congress pocketboroughs of Amethi and Raebareli, which are contested by members of the Gandhi family. Earlier in the month, after visiting Amethi – one of the two seats Rahul Gandhi contested from in 2019 only to lose to BJP’s Smriti Irani – Yadav had lamented over the state of affairs in the ‘VIP’ district, and said this time around the district will not choose “big people” but people with “big hearts”.

“SP wins there. Our MLAs win there…our aim is to defeat the BJP. We don’t want the BJP to win,” Yadav told ET on Sunday to a question on whether his statement on Amethi was a ‘signal’ to Congress. On Raebareli, Yadav said, “Even in Raebareli, we want BJP to lose. Only then someone will win. Do you want us to help someone only to let BJP win?” Without naming anyone, Yadav also highlighted how the sitting SP MLA from Amethi- Maharaji Prajapati was invited by Irani for a “khichdi” bhoj she had kept at her residence in Amethi in January as elections were approaching. Raebareli, Congress’ only LS seat in UP, is curren tly represented by Sonia Gandhi.

Party insiders said while no decision has been taken about Amethi, Yadav’s tweet about the city and his recent statements about the need for Congress to support regional parties in states they were strong in was a message to the Grand Old Party to essentially drop its “big brotherly” attitude and hold discussions with the SP – the principal challenger to the BJP in UP.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said that the Centre welcomes the step to reduce the coverage areas of disturbed land in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur under the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).Sonowal said that further relaxation of AFSPA in many areas of Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur is another welcome step by the Modi government. “Due to sustained and conscious effort by Narendra Modi has resulted in permanent peace in the region. On behalf of all the people of the region, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”

He added, “The dark days of violence, disturbance, and insurgency during the Congress government dispensation have now become a thing of the past due to the conscious effort of the Modi government. The insurgents have chosen to reject the road of violence as they join the movement of nation-building under the visionary leadership of PM Modi.”

Amit Shah on Saturday also said that the Centre has decided to decrease the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur under the AFSPA. Shah in a series of tweets stated, “A historic day for the Northeast! PM Modi-led government has once again decided to decrease the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur under the AFSPA. This decision has been taken on account of significant improvement in the security situation in North-East India”.He added, “For the first time in India’s history PM has prioritised security, peace, and development in the North East. As a result of it, the region today is rapidly heading on the path of peace and development”.

Shah thanked Modi, for bringing this positive change in the lives of the people of the North East and connecting the region with the hearts of the rest of India. Congratulated Northeast sisters and brothers on this momentous occasion.

In October last year, the Assam government had withdrawn the applicability of the AFSPA, 1958 from West KarbiAnglong district, citing improved law and order situation, and extended it in eight other districts and one sub-division by six months.Afspa gives immunity to the armed forces. In Assam, these special powers for search and seizure were announced in 1990. In April last year, Afspa was completely removed from 23 districts and partially from one district of the state. It continued in nine districts and one sub-division–Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, KarbiAnglong, West KarbiAnglong, DimaHasao and Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar district.

In April, Afspa was withdrawn from seven of 16 districts in Nagaland. In Manipur, it was lifted from six of the 16 districts. The Union government extended AFSPA in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for additional six months.

In a notification on March 24, MHA stated declared the Tirap, Changlang, and Lonpding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the States of Assam as “disturbed area’ vide Notification S.04623E) dated last year, September 30.

A further review of the law and order situation in the state of Arunachal Pradesh has been undertaken, now, therefore, Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai. Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering the State of Assam, are declared as “disturbed areas under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1 unless withdrawn earlier.

In another notification, it stated that the Central Government in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 (28 of 1958) had declared 9 districts and 16 Police Stations in 4 other districts of the state of Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from September 1, 2022.

Whereas a review of the law and order situation in the state of Nagaland has been undertaken. These areas are declared as ‘disturbed areas’ under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier.

• Dimapur, Niuland, Chumukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren districts.
• Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zaubza, Kezocha police stations in Kohima District
• Mangkolembu, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem, Anaki C’ police stations in Mokokchung District
• Yanglok police station in Longleng District
• Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District
• Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District