Bologna – “Strengthening cooperation with India through a structured relationship with our Embassy, agreeing on initiatives to seize opportunities in missions, investments, talent attraction and exchange projects, starting from our universities and research centres. With 1.4 billion inhabitants, an average age of 29 and a strong growth trend, India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027–2028: an immense market for our industrial supply chains and high-quality niche productions.”
This was how Vincenzo Colla, Vice-President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, summed up the videoconference meeting held on 24 January with Antonio Bartoli, Italy’s Ambassador to India and Nepal. The main aim of the meeting was to translate into concrete actions the guidelines set out in the 2025–2029 Joint Action Plan.
From an economic perspective, Emilia-Romagna is already well established in India: more than 160 companies operate directly in the country, mainly in the mechanical engineering, packaging, automotive and ceramics sectors. National bilateral trade has exceeded €14 billion.
Relations also extend to academia, with partnerships between universities and Indian technical institutes. Among the key priorities discussed was the activation of the Migration Agreement signed by Italy in 2023, which provides reserved quotas under the annual immigration decree for Indian workers and 12-month residence permits for Indian postgraduate students.
Under its regional law aimed at attracting and retaining talent, Emilia-Romagna could put forward pilot projects making use of these specific quotas, both by working closely with universities and by attracting already-trained professionals. This also includes recruitment policies and the recognition of qualifications for technicians and healthcare personnel, an area that will be explored further.
Particular importance will be given to the geographical targeting of partnerships. With the support of the Embassy, the aim is to avoid generic approaches and instead focus cooperation on Indian states that best match Emilia-Romagna’s industrial profile. In this context, one priority state will be identified for a regional institutional mission to be carried out by 2026.