**Executive Summary**
The Secretary (Defence Production) held key meetings with senior Italian defence officials in Rome, reaffirming a shared commitment between India and Italy to facilitate industry partnerships and build resilient defence supply chains. Shri Sanjeev Kumar highlighted policy frameworks for defence procurements, FDI norms, and India's defence corridors at the India-Italy Defence Industry Seminar, held on February 26-27, 2026. The India-EU Security and Defence Partnership signed in January 2026 also presents avenues for Indian companies to participate in the EU's defence supply chains.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Bilateral Engagements:**
* The Secretary met with Italy's Under Secretary of State for Defence, the National Armaments Director, and the Chief of Italian Defence Forces.
* Defence cooperation was identified as a key pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership.
* Both sides concurred on augmenting industrial cooperation through synergies and linkages between defence industrial ecosystems.
* **India-Italy Defence Industry Seminar:**
* The Secretary and the National Armaments Director delivered keynote addresses.
* Shri Sanjeev Kumar highlighted policy frameworks for defence procurements, FDI norms, and India's defence industrial corridors.
* Indian and Italian defence industries focused on B2B meetings to explore joint ventures, technology partnerships, and co-manufacturing initiatives.
* The industry seminar strengthened institutional cooperation between SIDM and AIAD.
* **Industry and Partnership Focus:**
* The delegation included key stakeholders from Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings, the private sector, SMEs, and start-ups.
* The delegation visited leading Italian defence companies to discuss opportunities for joint ventures, co-development, and co-production.
* The India-EU Security and Defence Partnership signed in January 2026 provides new avenues for participation of Indian defence companies in the defence supply chains of the EU.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Defence Industry**
* **Impact:** Enhanced opportunities for collaboration with Italian and EU defence industries, access to new technologies, and potential growth through joint ventures and co-manufacturing.
* **Action Required:** Engage in B2B meetings, explore partnership opportunities, and leverage policy frameworks for defence procurements and FDI.
**Italian Defence Industry**
* **Impact:** Potential for increased market access in India, collaboration opportunities with Indian defence companies, and enhanced participation in global defence supply chains.
* **Action Required:** Participate in industry seminars, explore joint ventures and technology partnerships with Indian companies, and leverage the deepened defence cooperation between India and Italy.
**Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Private Sector, SMEs, and Start-ups**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunities for growth through participation in joint ventures, technology partnerships, and co-manufacturing initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Leverage the synergies between Indian and Italian defence ecosystems to create new partnerships and expand operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: The primary ministry involved in facilitating the industry partnerships discussed.
India-EU Security and Defence Partnership: An agreement providing avenues for Indian defence companies to participate in EU defence supply chains.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A vision or policy promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing, serving as the context for India's commitment to build partnerships.
Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM): An organization under whose aegis the industry delegation participated in the seminar.
Rome: The location of key meetings between Indian and Italian defence officials.
Ministry of Defence
Secretary (Defence Production) holds key
meetings with senior Italian defence officials in
Rome
India & Italy reaffirm shared commitment to facilitate industry
partnerships to build resilient defence supply chains
Shri Sanjeev Kumar highlights policy frameworks for defence
procurements, FDI norms & India’s defence corridors at India-
Italy Defence Industry Seminar
Posted On: 27 FEB 2026 5:08PM by PIB Delhi
Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar called on Italy’s Under Secretary of State for
Defence Mr Matteo Perego di Cremnago and held meetings with National Armaments Director Admiral
Giacinto Ottaviani and Chief of Italian Defence Forces General Luciano Portolano during his visit to
Rome on February 26 & 27, 2026. During the meeting with Italy’s Under Secretary of State for Defence,
both nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to facilitate industry partnerships to build respective
resilient defence supply chains.
During the meetings with the National Armaments Director and the Chief of Italian Defence Forces, the
two sides identified defence cooperation as a key pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership and concurred
on the importance of augmenting industrial cooperation by building synergies and linkages between thedefence industrial ecosystems.
The Secretary (Defence Production) and the National Armaments Director also delivered keynote
addresses at the India-Italy Defence Industry Seminar, which provided a forward-looking agenda for
partnership. Shri Sanjeev Kumar highlighted the policy frameworks for defence procurements, FDI norms
and the defence industrial corridors in India.Both sides noted that the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership signed in January 2026 provides new
avenues for participation of Indian defence companies in the defence supply chains of the EU.
Indian and Italian defence industries had focused B2B meetings to explore joint ventures, technology
partnerships and co-manufacturing initiatives. The industry seminar also strengthened institutional
cooperation between SIDM and AIAD, building on their MoU signed in April 2025 in Rome.
A networking reception, hosted by the Embassy provided an opportunity for continuing the dialogue
among government officials, industry leaders and stakeholders. The Secretary (Defence Production) was
accompanied by an industry delegation under the aegis of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers,
which included key stakeholders from the Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings, private sector,
SMEs, and start-ups.
The delegation also visited leading Italian defence companies as part of the visit. The discussions focused
on opportunities for joint ventures, co-development and co-production leveraging the synergies between
the respective defence ecosystems.
The visit reflects the deepening of India and Italy defence cooperation and India’s commitment to build
trusted partnerships in defence manufacturing, in line with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
***
VK/Savvy
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