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    India to host Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni, first in a decade

    Synopsis

    Gentiloni’s visit is an attempt by Italy, a G-7 member state, and India to put ties back on track, according to people familiar with the matter.

    ET Bureau
    NEW DELHI: India is preparing to host Italy’s Paolo Gentiloni this month in the first prime ministerial visit from the country in a decade and more than five years since the bilateral crisis over Italian marines broke about.

    Gentiloni’s visit is an attempt by Italy, a G-7 member state, and India to put ties back on track, according to people familiar with the matter. Coming as it does close on the heels of the 14th India-EU summit, the visit will aim at further smoothing ties at a time when Europe appears to be the flavour of the season – French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit India from December 8-10.

    “The idea of the visit is to showcase growing momentum in Indo-Italian partnership and India’s expanding partnership with Europe – a source for funds and technology. Amid US-Europe ties hitting a low and the crisis in Spain, EU states are also looking for political support from India,” said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified.

    There are reports that Europe is looking to cement ties with India also because of growing skepticism over China's One Belt One Road or OBOR as the final objective of the mega connectivity project remains unclear.

    The Italian marine case had not only adversely impacted Indo-Italian ties but also Indo-EU partnership till it was addressed last year, following which external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Rome in September 2016. Romano Prodi was the last Italian PM to visit India, in 2007.

    India is eyeing an increase in Italian investments in leather, design sector, food sector and technology, besides exploring defence manufacturing. Italy is among India's top five trading partners in the EU and a key investor. Nearly 140 large Italian companies are active in India.

    Besides, India is seeking to learn from Italy’s deradicalisation programmes as the southern European country has not yet been targeted by terrorists and radicals despite its cosmopolitan society and migrants from across the globe. Italy houses the biggest Indian community in Europe after the UK. As per the latest Italian official estimates, more than 160,000 Indian nationals are resident in Italy.

    With incidents of terrorism rising in Europe, the Italian government in 2015 announced one million euros to promote culture – liberal arts, theatre, libraries – so that the youth don’t get influenced by radical ideas. Italy and India also want to focus on sharing of inputs between the security agencies amid rising attacks by the Islamic State.

    Mother Teresa’s canonisation in September last year had provided a perfect opportunity for resetting Indo-Italian ties, with Swaraj meeting Gentiloni (then foreign minister) in Rome, the first such meeting between the two sides in four years.

    The two ministers on that occasion discussed the roadmap of cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology, counterterrorism and cultural exchanges. They also agreed to expand cooperation between Italy and India in multilateral fora.

    The relations between the two nations hit a low after two Italian Navy personnel -- Massimilano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- were arrested by police in 2012 in Kerala and put on trial for killing two fishermen from the state in international waters.

    With Latorre and Girone now back in Italy, India and Italy are looking for a high-level bilateral engagement to bring ties back on track. The signs of thaw came when India secured Italy’s support for memberships to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and Nuclear Suppliers Group when the second marine returned back home last year. Italy was the only country holding out on India’s entry into the coveted MTCR till it lifted its objection, which was often viewed as a fallout of the marines issue.


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