Wednesday, 20 May 2026 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took selfies at the Colosseum and admired the view over Rome ahead of bilateral talks focused on trade during Modi’s first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to Italy in 26 years.
In a video posted to social media, Meloni thanked Modi for gifting her a packet of “Melody” toffees — a playful nod to the portmanteau of their names — with the two leaders seen laughing warmly over the gesture. Back home, the viral moment drove Parle Industries shares up 5%, as markets caught the “Melodi” magic.
In a joint opinion piece, the two leaders declared they wanted to reach and exceed a €20 billion bilateral trade target by 2029, with particular interest in defence, aerospace, car parts, and clean energy. Bilateral trade stood at €14.25 billion last year. Modi also planned to visit the Rome headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. The visit — wrapping up a broader European tour — signals a warming of one of India’s most strategically important Western European partnerships ahead of the 2029 elections.
