Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, met Adolfo Urso, the Italian Minister of Enterprises, to discuss deepening maritime cooperation between India and Italy. This meeting took place during the docking of the Italian Navy’s School Ship, Amerigo Vespucci, at the Indira Docks in Mumbai Port. Sonowal also joined Urso in visiting Villagio Italia, a model Italian village, to showcase Italy’s rich culture.
In his address, Sonowal highlighted the growing economic ties between the two nations, particularly in sectors like trade, automobiles, infrastructure, and renewable energy. He praised the partnership and said that both countries are now working in areas like cybersecurity, defense, space, and the Blue Economy. He emphasized that India and Italy should strengthen their maritime ties to unlock more economic opportunities. He also pointed out Cochin Shipyard Limited’s collaboration with Fincantieri in shipbuilding and expressed hopes for more such partnerships.
Sonowal also urged Italy’s support for the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) being developed at Lothal in Gujarat. He suggested that Italy’s maritime expertise and cultural contributions would be invaluable for this ambitious maritime museum project.
The event also featured an Italian Village on the wharf showcasing Italy’s finest craftsmanship and creativity. Visitors had the chance to experience exhibitions like We Are Sea, Expo Leonardo, and Giotto Experience. They also toured the Amerigo Vespucci, often called the world’s most beautiful ship, which is currently on its World Tour 2023-2025, visiting ports around the globe, including Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Singapore.
India and Italy share a strong maritime bond, with the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) handling important trade like steel, automobiles, and project cargo between the two countries. In 2023-24, the Italian Flag Cruise Vessel, Costa Serena, made 20 calls at MbPA.
The Amerigo Vespucci, commissioned in 1931, is a stunning tall ship of the Italian Navy. The ship boasts 26 sails and is capable of cruising at 15 knots (28 km/h). It carries 130 Naval Academy Cadets and has visited major ports globally, with Mumbai being one of the key stops.
The event also focused on Space and the Blue Economy, with key attendees like Sushil Kumar Singh, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, and Ambassador Antonio Bartoli contributing to the discussions.
