New Delhi: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Italy and France from Oct 9 to 12, 2023, officials said on Sunday.

During the first leg of his two-nation visit, Singh is scheduled to meet Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome.

"The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to Strategic Partnership in March 2023 during the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India," read a statement issued by the Indian government.

During the second and final leg, Rajnath Singh will conduct the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with his counterpart, French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in Paris.

India and France recently celebrated 25 years of Strategic Partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation.

In both Rome and Paris, Singh will also interact with the defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation.