Decoding the news. Ambassador (ret) Francesco Maria Talò, former diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is the first Italian special envoy for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).
- During his career, Talò has served as Italian ambassador to NATO and Israel and as envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the decision on Wednesday, ahead of his official visit to New Delhi on April 10–11.
Soon in Delhi. Tajani’s visit comes amid growing political pressure to step up Italy’s role in IMEC.
- The project, backed by the EU, Middle East powers, the US, and India, aims to connect South Asia to Europe through the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
- Italy is well positioned to benefit, especially its ports like Trieste.
- Naming an envoy would give Rome a stronger diplomatic foothold as plans towards concrete steps.
Parliamentary push. On Wednesday, MP Paolo Formentini, vice president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, argued that a special envoy would help coordinate Italy’s engagement and raise its visibility within the project.
- “IMEC is a fundamental project for its economic and commercial aspects and is highly strategic,” explains Formentini, emphasising that Italy “must take a leading role, given the critical interests that bind it” to the Indo and Middle East.
- A recent report by the Foreign Affairs Committee also recommends appointing a dedicated envoy to ensure Italy’s proactive involvement in the corridor’s development.
Italy-India connections. Tajani’s coming mission will centre on expanding economic and technological cooperation.
- The Italy-India Business, Science and Technology Forum, organised by the Foreign Ministry and ICE with Confindustria, will bring together companies, institutions, and innovation players from both countries.
- Four thematic roundtables will focus on Industry 4.0, infrastructure, green transition, and frontier tech on April 10.
- A dedicated session on innovation and startups will connect incubators, VCs, and entrepreneurs from both ecosystems.
What we’re watching. The government will announce the envoy’s name before Tajani’s departure.
- The appointment would fulfil a 2024 parliamentary resolution and reinforce Italy’s positioning within IMEC and its broader strategic relationship with India.
