New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who came to power in October last year, will pay a state visit to India from March 2-3, in the first bilateral VVIP visit from Italy to New Delhi after five years.

Prime Minister Meloni will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajan and a high-powered business delegation.

The last Prime Ministerial visit from Italy to India took place in October 2018.

PM Meloni will also be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 8th Raisina Dialogue, 2023.

PM Meloni will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PM Meloni will hold discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will call on PM Meloni.

The visiting PM will call on President Droupadi Murmu in the afternoon of March 2, an official statement said.

India and Italy are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

The multifaceted bilateral relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in green energy, science and tech, and defence and is marked by convergence on regional and global issues.

The two countries have also been cooperating closely in various multilateral forums.

During the visit, a business roundtable will be organised on March 2 co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani and Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

Prime Minister Meloni's visit is expected to strengthen further and deepen the long-standing relationship between India and Italy.

Both sides will take stock of the progress on the key outcomes of the November 2020 Summit, strengthen security and defence cooperation, work towards closer economic ties, enhance the opportunity for the mobility of talent and give strategic guidance to ongoing collaboration in Science & Technology, the statement added.

PM Meloni, 45, is Italy's first female prime minister.