India and Italy Push IMEC Expansion to Boost Global Trade and Supply-Chain Resilience

In a joint statement issued after bilateral discussions in Rome, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on the ambitious IMEC initiative, describing it as a transformational project capable of reshaping international trade routes and promoting long-term economic prosperity across regions.

The two leaders acknowledged the progress made through preliminary discussions surrounding the corridor and encouraged the first IMEC Ministerial Meeting to take concrete steps toward advancing the initiative in 2026. The proposed economic corridor is expected to deepen strategic connectivity between India, the Middle East and Europe while enhancing trade efficiency and economic cooperation among participating nations.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rome, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described IMEC as a major connectivity and economic corridor linking Europe, the Middle East and India. She stated that the project carries significant potential to strengthen trade, attract investment and improve supply-chain resilience at a time when countries are seeking stronger economic partnerships and diversified trade networks.

Meloni emphasized that improving interconnectivity between the regions remains a key priority for both governments and reiterated Italy’s strong support for the development of the corridor. The two Prime Ministers also reaffirmed that innovation, science and technology continue to serve as central pillars of the India-Italy partnership, reflecting a broader commitment to strategic cooperation beyond trade and infrastructure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the complementary strengths of both nations, stating that Italy is globally recognised for design and precision, while India has established itself as a powerhouse of scale, talent and affordable innovation. His remarks underscored the growing strategic and economic alignment between New Delhi and Rome as both countries seek to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.

The renewed push for IMEC marks a significant step in strengthening India-Italy relations and reflects a broader vision of creating resilient global trade corridors capable of supporting economic growth, regional connectivity and long-term international cooperation.