About Us

About US

We consolidate relationships
between Italy and India

We work together to improve knowledge

AIICP, India-Italy Association for Cooperation and Partnership was established in Milan in 2019 by a prominent group of business leaders and representatives from the academic, media, civil society and cultural worlds. It aims to provide a significant boost to the ever more strategically important relationship between India and Italy. Ms. Emma Marcegaglia, CEO of the eponymous group, is AIICP’S President, Mr. Sajjan Jindal, Chairman of the JSW Steel Group, is its Co-President and Ambassador Antonio Armellini is Executive Vice President.

The natural empathy between the two countries does not always translate into an in-depth knowledge of each other's realities, where stereotypes and generalisations are still at play. For many in Italy, India is perceived as a country, with areas of absolute excellence but with a modest political clout. That's not how things really are. India has seen for quite some time an accelerated economic and productivity growth, for which IT is one, but not the only crowning pinnacle. Italy, for its part, has played an important role from the early stages of indipendent India's agricultural revolution, and mass motorisation came to the country thanks to Italian industry. After a period in which this presence abted for various reasons, relations have entered a new phase of accelerated growth at the political and economic level. We should strive to make the many new success stories between India and Italy the critical standard of our cooperation.

AIICP, India-Italy Association for Cooperation and Partnership has overcome the limitations posed by the covid-19 pandemic, proposing itself as an effective Indo-Italian soft power tool to promote broader mutual understanding, address misguided perceptions and offer the means for increased attention and influence in both countries. AIICP operates in an open and flexible manner, in autonomous synergy with official and istitutional levels: its main economic and commercial focus is completed by a special attention for the political, social and cultural dynamics that play a crucial role in overcoming distorting stereotypes and setting the ground for the development of mutually advantageous relations.

AIICP participation is open not only to all those who are already successfully operating in and from India, but also and in particular to anyone who shares the view that this is a challenge and an opportunity that cannot be left aside. India may not yet be the global superpower it aims to be, but is moving fast in that direction; it sees the world primarily in terms of power relations and the two countries represent a market that can be ignored only at each other’s peril. Time is short and opportunities will not wait.

About US

We consolidate relationships
between Italy and India

We work together to improve knowledge

AIICP, India-Italy Association for Cooperation and Partnership was established in Milan in 2019 by a prominent group of business leaders, associations and representatives from the media, civil society and culture, with the aim of providing a significant boost in the ever more strategically important relationship between India and Italy. Emma Marcegaglia, CEO of the eponymous group, is AIICP’S President, Sajjan Jindal, Chairman of the JSW Steel Group, is its Co-President and Ambassador Antonio Armellini is Executive Vice President.
The natural empathy between the two countries does not always translate into an in-depth knowledge of each other's realities, on which stereotypes and generalizations play. For many in Italy, the perception of India is that of an interesting country, with still limited potential.

To Indian eyes, on the other hand, Italy appears often as a “likeable” country with pockets of excellence and a modest political clout. It was not always like this: India has since long taken the brink of economic and productive growth of which IT represents one, but not the only point of excellence. Italy, for its part, has been present since the early stages of the agricultural revolution during the early stages of India’s independence and it is with the Italian industry that its two- and four-wheel mass motorization has developed.
The presence abated in the following years for different reasons, however relations have entered a new phase of accelerated growth at the political and economic level. It is necessary to work so that the numerous Italian success stories in several areas can be translated into a critical mass. AIICP, India-Italy Association for Cooperation and Partnershipstarted its activity despite the limitations posed by the covid-19 pandemic, proposing itself as a useful Indo-Italian tool for soft power actions in both countries broadening the bases of mutual understanding, addressing misguided perceptions and offering the means for increased attention and influence in both directions. As an independent body, it cooperates in an open and flexible manner with other structures and institutions: its principal economic and commercial focus is accompanied by a particular attention for political, social and cultural dynamics, the positive combination of which is crucial to overcoming distorting stereotypes and setting the ground for the development of mutually advantageous relations.
AIICP, India-Italy Association for Cooperation and Partnershipstarted its activity despite the limitations posed by the covid-19 pandemic, proposing itself as a useful Indo-Italian tool for soft power actions in both countries broadening the bases of mutual understanding, addressing misguided perceptions and offering the means for increased attention and influence in both directions. As an independent body, it cooperates in an open and flexible manner with other structures and institutions: its principal economic and commercial focus is accompanied by a particular attention for political, social and cultural dynamics, the positive combination of which is crucial to overcoming distorting stereotypes and setting the ground for the development of mutually advantageous relations.
About US

We consolidate relationships
between Italy and India

We consolidate relationships between Italy and India

AIICP, India-Italy Association for Cooperation and Partnership was established in Milan in 2019 by a prominent group of business leaders, associations and representatives from the media, civil society and culture, with the aim of providing a significant boost in the ever more strategically important relationship between India and Italy. Emma Marcegaglia, CEO of the eponymous group, is AIICP’S President, Sajjan Jindal, Chairman of the JSW Steel Group, is its Co-President and Ambassador Antonio Armellini is Executive Vice President.
The natural empathy between the two countries does not always translate into an in-depth knowledge of each other's realities, on which stereotypes and generalizations play. For many in Italy, the perception of India is that of an interesting country, with still limited potential.


To Indian eyes, on the other hand, Italy appears often as a “likeable” country with pockets of excellence and a modest political clout. It was not always like this: India has since long taken the brink of economic and productive growth of which IT represents one, but not the only point of excellence. Italy, for its part, has been present since the early stages of the agricultural revolution during the early stages of India’s independence and it is with the Italian industry that its two- and four-wheel mass motorization has developed. The presence abated in the following years for different reasons, however relations have entered a new phase of accelerated growth at the political and economic level. It is necessary to work so that the numerous Italian success stories in several areas can be translated into a critical mass.

AIICP, India-Italy Association for Cooperation and Partnershipstarted its activity despite the limitations posed by the covid-19 pandemic, proposing itself as a useful Indo-Italian tool for soft power actions in both countries broadening the bases of mutual understanding, addressing misguided perceptions and offering the means for increased attention and influence in both directions. As an independent body, it cooperates in an open and flexible manner with other structures and institutions: its principal economic and commercial focus is accompanied by a particular attention for political, social and cultural dynamics, the positive combination of which is crucial to overcoming distorting stereotypes and setting the ground for the development of mutually advantageous relations. AIICPparticipation is open not only to all those who are already successfully engaged in India, but also and in particular to anyone who shares the view that it represents a challenge and an opportunity that cannot be left aside. India may not yet be the global superpower it aims to become but is moving fast in that direction; it looks at the world primarily in terms of force relationships and represents a market of fundamental importance for an industrialized exporting country like Italy. We would be well-advised not to waste any more time.

Board of Directors

Emma Marcegaglia

Chairman

Sajjan Jindal

Co-Chairman

Antonio Armellini

Executive Vice Chairman

Honorary Members

Min. Plen. Alessandra Schiavo

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

H.E. Vincenzo de Luca

Ambassador of Italy to India

H.E. Neena Malhotra

Ambassador of India to Italy

Corporate members

bonfiglioli

Sonia Bonfiglioli

Bonfiglioli Riduttori S.p.A.
barbara-beltrame

Barbara Beltrame

Confindustria
benedetti

Gianpietro Benedetti

Danieli & C. S.p.A.
dell_orto

Andrea dell’Orto

Dell’Orto S.p.A.
rocca

Giovanni Rocca

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane
bono

Giuseppe Bono

Fincantieri S.p.A.
sironi

Andrea Sironi

Generali S.p.A.
Nunzio

Nunzio Martinello

Noonic
colaninno

Matteo Colaninno

Piaggio&C. S.p.A.
angori

Silvio Angori

Pininfarina S.p.A.
errore

Rodolfo Errore

Sace S.p.A.
alverà

Marco Alverà

Snam S.p.A.
Hugo_Doyle

Hugo Doyle

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A
di_amato

Fabrizio Di Amato

Maire Tecnimont

Individual Members

amato

Giuliano Amato

cristaldi

Sara Cristaldi

de_bortoli

Ferruccio De Bortoli

gancia

Gianna Gancia

guglielmetti

Romina Guglielmetti

marchetti

Piergaetano Marchetti

montefoschi

Giorgio Montefoschi

quintieri

Beniamino Quintieri

taino

Danilo Taino

zaccà

Rosario Zaccà

zalonis

Alessandro Zalonis

Ritu_Dalmia

Ritu Dalmia

pagani

Fabrizio Pagani

marri

Paolo Marri

Staff

piotti

Cristina Kiran Piotti

Press review
broglia

Martina Broglia

Secretariat
SM

Simone Mezzedimi

Research and Coordination

Secretariat
Via Giovanni della Casa 12, 20151 Milano
Italindia.aiicp@gmail.com

REASONS WHY

Why Promoting?

Italy can count on a widespread network of associations and groups promoting international cooperation with other countries, but the importance and breadth of relations with India is a compelling argument for the creation of an association specifically devoted to strengthening exchanges and favouring an informed understanding between the two countries.

India’s weight as a major power does not yet fully match the level of its political ambition

India has achieved a prominent role on the international scene on the strength of its geo-strategic context, its economic growth and its social dynamics.

Full integration with world markets and development of relations with advanced industrialized countries has not been without hurdles – both political and bureaucratic – since its inception in 1991. The Modi government has fully re-energized the process, giving it its own dynamics, and the Indian market with its problems and difficulties is today an essential priority for industrialized exporting countries like Italy.

India may not yet be viewed as a global power but is without doubt a key force in the Asia-Pacific region. As the global balance of power shifts to the East, India’s role in security arrangements in relation to – but not exclusively with – China becomes paramount. The international security architecture is changing fast and India plays today, and will play even more in the future, a fundamental role in its many evolving structures; the implications both at the regional and global level are clear and will be relevant for Italy’s policy towards the Asia-Pacific region, which received in the past insufficient attention.

Relations between India and Italy span across the centuries

The founding fathers of the Indian National Movement were familiar with the works of Giuseppe Mazzini, who at the time was living in exile in London, and his cultural and political legacy is still strong, possibly more than in Italy itself.

The great orientalist, Giuseppe Tucci, is as much an Indian as an Italian glory. Jawaharlal Nehru’ third-world pacifist thinking enjoyed wide support in Italy and friendly relations developed through a wide range of contacts. 

Italian industry contributed significantly to the early phases of independent India’s development. Companies such as Montedison, Snam and IRI were active partners in Nehru’s first agricultural revolution, which allowed the country to achieve food self-sufficiency. Two- and four-wheel private motorization came to India thanks to Italy: Innocenti’s “Lambretta”, Piaggio’s “Vespa” and Fiat’s “Millecento”, have long been recognized standards of excellence. Many historic Italian industrial brands such as Ceat and Bisleri are now Indian owned. To this day, the local shorthand term for an electric fan is “Marelli” and the list could go on.

Italy’s present role and influence are of relatively secondary importance and do not reflect their real potential

The crisis of IRI and the profound changes in Italian state-owned industries, as well as ill-starred industrial choices in other areas, have been among the causes of a decline that began in the 1980s and has proved difficult to reverse.

There were many happy exceptions, such as Piaggio, Fiat, Ferrero, Generali, Lavazza, Perfetti, Finmeccanica, Fincantieri, Enel, Astaldi, Carraro, Tecnimont and Saipem; Italian fashion and design are universally prized  and a number of other companies are operating successfully in sectors ranging from manufacturing to food processing. This range of activities has failed so far to fully translate into the image of Italy as a cohesively strong industrial partner.

Political contacts between the two countries have for long been few and far between and only recently the imbalance has begun to be corrected. A comprehensive series of programmes aimed at recovering lost ground have been undertaken both at the level of government and other institutions to give renewed impetus to the cooperation, and more are being planned. There is still a long way to go: India looks at the world primarily in terms of force relationships, has difficulty in understanding why Italy – a country of which it knows  relatively little – refrains from playing a role commensurate with its real weight, and acts in consequence.

The India-Italy Association for Cooperation and Partnership (AIICP)

Bringing relations up to their effective potential requires a carefully articulated foreign policy approach

An approach, both at formal level and through the use of soft power instruments, aimed at  a more in-depth discussion on issues of reciprocal and at times problematic importance, in a format that is both authoritative and informal. Such instruments have been for long part and parcel of the foreign policy toolbox in the Anglo-Saxon world, and in that of many other European countries, but are little-known in Italy and their impact is often underestimated. In India, however, where the Anglo-Saxon tradition in this field is still visible, soft power instruments play an important role and are widely used to significant advantage by Italy’s main partners and competitors.

Not much is known about Italy in India, and Italian views on India are often influenced by stereotyping and distortions. There is a clear need to address such a situation, improving the scope, range and effectiveness of soft policy actions in both directions. A more informed understanding of mutual perceptions and priorities is crucial to getting to know each other better, which in turn is an essential prerequisite for stronger and more fruitful political and economic relations. Based in Milan, the India-Italy Association for Cooperation and PartnershipAIICP - aims at fulfilling such an aim -  creating positive synergies and not overlapping with the work of political, business and cultural structures -  and provides an informal track-two approach to explore opportunities in the economic, commercial, scientific and cultural fields and discuss matters of mutual interest. The association is based on a joint Indo-Italian membership and has a strong economic focus, with a mutually reinforcing political and cultural link. Participation is open to all those who share the belief that closer relations can contribute to the growth and wellbeing of both countries.