Secretary (Defence Production) holds key meetings in Rome

Secretary (Defence Production) 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.

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. (UPDATED ON 27TH FEBRUARY 2026)