Rome

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday used a Hindi phrase — “Parishram hi safalta ki kunji hai” — meaning “hard work is the key to success,” while highlighting the growing partnership between India and Italy during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Rome.

Addressing a joint press statement alongside PM Modi, Meloni described the bilateral relationship as entering a historic phase and said the two countries had elevated their engagement to the level of a “Special Strategic Partnership.”

Referring to the Hindi word “Parishram,” Meloni said the term symbolises hard work, dedication and perseverance, values she said have shaped the relationship between the two nations.

“There is an Indian word which states that very well, which is ‘Parishram’. It means hard work, constant commitment and fatigue. In India, there is a popular saying, ‘Parishram hi safalta ki kunji hai’, meaning hard work is the key to success. We have built our relations in the same way — through effort that ultimately leads to success,” she said.

Meloni noted that PM Modi’s visit marked the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Italy in more than two decades, calling it a significant moment in revitalising ties between New Delhi and Rome.

She pointed out that the last bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Italy took place in 2000 and said the current visit has helped bridge a long diplomatic gap while opening a new chapter in bilateral engagement.

The Italian Prime Minister recalled that during her visit to New Delhi in 2023, both countries launched a Strategic Partnership, which was followed by the signing of a Joint Strategic Action Plan for 2025–2029 during the G20 Summit in Brazil in 2024.

She said the relationship has now been upgraded to a “Special Strategic Partnership,” the highest level achieved between the two nations.

Meloni highlighted the increasing frequency of meetings between the two leaders in recent years, saying these interactions have helped deepen trust and accelerate cooperation across several sectors, including trade, defence, technology, energy and culture.

She said India and Italy have set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade from the current 14 billion euros to 20 billion euros by 2029, adding that the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement could further support this objective.

The Italian Prime Minister also stressed the growing collaboration between the two countries in fields such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, energy transition, defence, critical minerals and space technology.

She referred to initiatives such as InnovIT India and the proposed Talent Centre in New Delhi, which aim to connect startups, research institutions, universities and industries from both countries.

“The size of India’s market, its digital infrastructure and innovative dynamism complement Italy’s industrial strength and manufacturing excellence. This partnership can create new investments, employment opportunities and industrial cooperation,” she said.

Meloni further underlined the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), describing it as a transformative initiative that could significantly strengthen trade connectivity and resilient supply chains between Europe, the Middle East and India.

She also reiterated the announcement that India and Italy will jointly observe 2027 as the “Year of Culture and Tourism” to enhance people-to-people ties and deepen cultural exchanges between the two civilisations.

On global issues, Meloni said India and Italy share common positions on international stability, maritime security, freedom of navigation and inclusive development, while continuing to support diplomatic solutions to conflicts in regions such as Ukraine and West Asia.

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Prime Minister Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday as part of the final leg of his five-nation tour, following visits to Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.