Cabinet strikes ‘Melodi’ note, approves ‘Migration and Mobility Agreement’ with Italy
Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, December 27: The Union Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its ex-post facto approval to the proposal of Ministry of External Affairs to sign and ratify the ‘Migration and Mobility Agreement’ with Italy. The Cabinet decision has come in the wake of India and Italy elevating bilateral relations to strategic level during the visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Rome early this year.
The bonding of Modi with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been the sidelight at the multilateral meetings. Modi and Meloni have been seen to be steering the bilateral relations to strategic partnership as Italy is now taking a keen interest in the defence cooperation with India.
The Cabinet secretariat said in a media statement that the “agreement with Italy would enhance people-to-people contacts, foster mobility of students, skilled workers, business people and young professionals and strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular migration between the two sides”.
The Agreement locks-in the current Italian visa regime including mechanisms for post study opportunities, internships, professional trainings assuring an advantage for India under the existing labour mobility pathways under the Flows Decree. Indian students wishing to gather initial professional experience, after completing academic/vocational training in Italy may be granted temporary residence in Italy for up to 12 months.
The government in a media statement said: “The Italian side has detailed provisions related to Professional Training, Extracurricular Internships and Curricular Internships which allow Indian students/trainees to gain experience in Italian skill/training standards. For workers, the Italian side has reserved a quota of 5000, 6000 and 7000 non seasonal Indian workers for 2023, 2024 and 2025 under the current Flows Decree (Total reserved quota stands at 12000 for non-seasonal workers). Additionally, the Italian side has reserved a quota of 3000, 4000 and 5000 seasonal Indian workers for 2023, 2024 and 2025 under current Flows Decree (Total reserved quota stands at 8000 for seasonal workers).”
The agreement is likely to give Indian students and professional an alternative window to Canada with which India is now locked in tense relations after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelled allegations against the Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh activist Harjeet Singh Nijjar, who was designated by New Delhi as a terrorist.
The government said that “under the Flows Decree, Italian side has offered incremental reserved quotas for both seasonal and non-seasonal workers from 2023-2025. Additionally, the Agreement also formalises joint working on furthering mobility pathways between India and Italy through agreements on Youth Mobility and Facilitation of Recruitment of Indian qualified professionals in the healthcare and medical services sectors which will be discussed under the Joint Working Group (JWG)”.
It may be noted that a number of Italian firms are now partnering with Indian companies for joint production of defence goods, including ammunitions. Italy is also partnering with the Uttar Pradesh government in several areas including smart city development projects and infrastructure development.
With Meloni at the helm of the affairs in Rome, Italy is seeking a close partnership with India, which has also gained momentum after Rome growing wary of China. Italy officially announced earlier quitting Belt and Road Initiative of China.
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@theRaisinaHills Follow: https://twitter.com/theraisinahills
About The Author
