Bilateral trade between India and Italy has shown robust growth, especially over the past two years. Bilateral relations between the two countries received a major impetus after the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India in February 2005, and the subsequent visit of the Indian Commerce and Industry Minister in October 2006. Exports to Italy, which were roughly Euro 1.38 billion in 2000-01, grew to Euro 2.07 billion in 2005-06. Imports from Italy also got a tremendous fillip, having more than doubled from Euro 0.76 billion to Euro 1.52 billion, during the same period.

Today, Italy is India's fourth largest trading partner in the European Union. The Italian government has already identified India as a priority country and, in particular, as the Focus Country for 2007.

There still remains a vast pool of unexplored possibilities for collaboration across all industry sectors, particularly at the level of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), an industry characteristic common to both countries. This has necessitated a study to review the operations and growth strategies of Italian companies currently present in India, with a view to analyse their success in establishing themselves in the Indian market. IBEF commissioned a study, which was undertaken by ICRA Management Consulting Services (IMaCS), to showcase the growth stories of these Italian companies.This study will serve as a useful guideline for other Italian companies, which may be keen to do business in India.

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List of Italian companies in India