Decoding the news: Italy and India are reinforcing the institutional backbone of their economic relationship. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by SIMEST and the Indian Chamber of Commerce reinforces India’s position as a key market for Italian companies. It embeds investment cooperation within the broader “Sistema Italia” framework led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What happened: SIMEST, part of Italy’s CDP Group, and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Mumbai aimed at boosting economic cooperation and unlocking new bilateral investment opportunities.
- The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Italy–India Business Forum, in the presence of Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
- Who signed:
- Regina Corradini D’Arienzo, CEO of SIMEST
- Rajeev Singh, Director General of the Indian Chamber of Commerce
What the MoU includes:
- Promotion of joint initiatives between Italian and Indian companies;
- support for bilateral investments, including through SIMEST’s financial instruments;
- structured exchange of knowledge and information on investment opportunities, M&A, industrial projects and startups;
- creation of a stable collaboration network between the two business communities.
The bigger picture: India is identified as a priority country under Italy’s Foreign Ministry Export Action Plan.
- In 2025, SIMEST opened a new office in Delhi and launched a dedicated financial measure to support Italian investments in India.
- The MoU aligns with the coordinated action of the “Sistema Italia” — comprising the Foreign Ministry, CDP, SIMEST, ICE, and SACE — to support the international expansion of Italian firms.
What SIMEST says: “This agreement with the Indian Chamber of Commerce confirms SIMEST’s clear commitment to supporting Italian companies’ investments in a key market for Made in Italy, such as India,” said CEO Regina Corradini D’Arienzo.
- “We achieve this by combining dedicated financial instruments with targeted expertise. India is one of the priority countries of the Foreign Ministry’s Export Action Plan, and SIMEST has taken concrete steps to strengthen commercial relations between our two countries.”
- According to Corradini D’Arienzo, beyond today’s agreement, in 2025 alone, we will open a SIMEST office in Delhi and activate a dedicated measure to facilitate Italian investments in the country.
- “This MoU – she adds – is part of the broader action of the Sistema Italia, led by the Foreign Ministry together with CDP, SIMEST, ICE and SACE, to support the international growth of our productive system and expand economic cooperation in high-value-added markets for Made in Italy.”
What ICC says: “The Indian Chamber was honoured to sign an agreement with SIMEST, which underlines its commitment to small and medium enterprises as well as the importance it places on Italy,” said Dr Rajeev Singh, Director General of the Indian Chamber of Commerce at the signature of the agreement.
- “The agreement, which was signed on the eve of the chamber’s 100th anniversary in the presence of Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Tajani and India’s Minister of Commerce Goyal, gives huge encouragement for JV’s between Indian and Italian companies.”
Between the lines: The SIMEST–ICC MoU is part of a broader push to upgrade Italy–India economic ties. Speaking in Mumbai during the Italy–India Business Forum, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani set an ambitious target of €20 billion in bilateral trade by 2029, framing India not just as an export destination but as a long-term investment partner for Italy in innovation, research and training.
- Connectivity is central to this strategy, with Rome strongly backing the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a way to position Italy as a logistical hub between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
- Diplomatic momentum is already yielding business outcomes, with rising interest from Indian partners, growing financial engagement from CDP and SIMEST, and concrete industrial results.
What we’re watching: The agreement aims to translate the growing political and economic convergence between Italy and India into tangible investment flows, industrial projects, and long-term business partnerships, with a focus on sectors that deliver higher added value for Italian companies.
(Photo: X, @ICC_Chamber)
