Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to <keyword id="19894993" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Italy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Italy" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Italy">Italy</keyword> this week to attend the annual summit of G7 advanced economies in his first trip abroad after assuming office for the third straight term. The <keyword id="21430934" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="G7-summit" source="keywords">G7 summit</keyword>, to be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italy's Apulia region from June 13 to 15, is likely to be dominated by the raging war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza. US President Joe Biden, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among the top leaders attending the summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled for a session on the Russian invasion of his country. People familiar with Modi's planned trip to Italy said he is set to leave for Italy on June 13 and will return late on June 14, adding it will be his first trip abroad after taking charge as the prime minister for the third consecutive term. There is no official announcement on Modi's visit to Italy yet. Modi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation that is likely to include <keyword id="20017412" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="external-affairs" source="keywords">External Affairs</keyword> Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and NSA Ajit Doval, the sources said. The prime minister is set to hold a number of bilateral meetings including with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Modi had attended the previous G7 summit in Hiroshima in May last year. On the sidelines of the summit, he had held talks with Zelenskyy and a number of other leaders. The G7 comprises the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan. Italy is holding the current presidency of the G7 (Group of Seven) and is hosting the summit in that capacity. A key focus of the Italian presidency has been to defend the rules-based international system. Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine has undermined its principles and triggered growing instability, with multiple crises unfolding worldwide, according to Italy. The G7 will give equal importance to the conflict in the Middle East, with its consequences for the global agenda, it says. The bloc expanded into the G8 between 1997 and 2013, with the inclusion of Russia. However, Russia's participation was suspended in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea. In line with its tradition, representatives of a number of countries and international organisations are invited to the summit by the host nation that holds the chair. Besides India, Italy has invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the summit. Though the European Union is not a member of the G7, it attends the annual summit.

PM Modi to take new term's first trip abroad this week, travel to Italy for G7 summit

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/53394104.cms" /> It’s been a little over two years that <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> took his oath as the Prime Minister of India, and in these two years, he has travelled 51 times abroad to 42 countries across six continents. While one can say that it’s because of India’s increasing commitments at multilateral forums that he has to travel so much, given that several of his trips, including ones he made to Sri Lanka, Australia, Nepal, Seychelles, UAE, Canada and Fiji were strategic for bilateral pacts, the truth can’t be denied that by the time his term ends in 2019, he could well be the most travelled Indian PM ever. 
 
As per ET, Modi has travelled a total of 1,91,069 miles since he became the PM, taking 9 foreign trips in 2014, 28 in 2015 and 14 in 2016 so far. In the coming three years, he will possibly be travelling to Vietnam, China, Laos, Pakistan, Japan, Israel, China, Kazakhstan, Phillipines, Moscow, Germany, South Africa, and Shanghai for several meetings and summits, involving BRICS, East Asia Summit, G-20 meetings etc. 
 
However, it’s not like Modi is the only PM who loves to (read has to) travel. His immediate predecessor Manmohan Singh comes quite close when one counts the number of foreign trips undertaken in the first two years. Other than him, late PM Indira Gandhi was also a very well-travelled PM, having been to Afghanistan and Trinidad and Tobago in her regime. 
 
<a href="https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-IK973_0515mo_M_20150514223136.jpg">Image source</a>

PM Modi set to make records as India’s most travelled PM ever

Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> and <keyword id="19901464" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="French-President-Emmanuel-Macron" source="keywords">French President Emmanuel Macron</keyword> agreed to further intensify <keyword id="22062767" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategic-defence-cooperation" source="keywords">strategic defence cooperation</keyword> with an increased focus on '<keyword id="20018809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Make-in-India" source="keywords">Make in India</keyword>' when both leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Italy. "They (both the leaders) agreed to further intensify strategic defence cooperation with an increased focus on 'Make in India'," a short statement from the Prime Minister's Office said. At the invitation of Prime Minister Meloni, PM Modi travelled to the Apulia region in Italy to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit earlier this week. This was his first overseas visit since assuming office for the third consecutive term. France is one of India's key partners in the development of a self-reliant defence industrial and technological base. India and France are committed to cooperating in the co-development and co-production of advanced defence technologies, including for the benefit of third countries. Several defence companies, in both countries, are currently working on various initiatives, including cooperation for the motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter [IMRH] programme with Safran Helicopter Engine, France. A shareholder's agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India and Safran Helicopter Engine, France, has been concluded for engine development. Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL collaborated on the transfer of technology of forging and casting for the Shakti Engine. This is also reflective of the French commitment to support technology transfer and the Make in India initiative. Another such example is the MoU between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), and Naval Group France, a leader in the European Naval Defence Industry, to collaborate in the field of surface ships that cater to the requirements of India and International Naval forces. India is investing heavily in defence and aerospace manufacturing, with several defence hubs being set up. Indian defence PSUs have benefited, besides the companies in the private sector, as they have accumulated tremendously high returns on equities in the past few years, benefiting from the new orders. Notably, many global companies have either shared or shown intent to share critical defence and aerospace knowledge with India. This April, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan visited France, further reinforcing the bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations. The interactions of CDS with Patrick Pailloux, Director of Civil and Military Cabinet of the Minister of the French Armed Forces, and Lt Gen Vincent Giraud, Chief of Military Cabinet of the Minister of the Armed Forces at the apex level and also with his counterpart, General Thierry Burkhard have enabled the exchange of views on areas of common interest and mutual security concerns. Deliberations on enhancing the exchange of high-end dual-use technologies, besides discussions with the top leadership of the French Defence industry, including Dassault, Safran and Naval Groups, and Thales Alenia Space, towards futuristic capacity building of the Indian Armed Forces, are expected to provide an impetus to indigenization. India and France had decided to deepen their cooperation in all areas of the space sector by strengthening their programmes of common interest. The India-France Strategic Partnership has gathered significant momentum over time and has now evolved into an even closer and more multifaceted relationship that spans diverse areas of cooperation. In 1998, the two countries upgraded their partnership to a strategic level. To mark the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French partnership, both countries agreed in July 2023 to adopt a roadmap to set the course for the bilateral relationship up to 2047, which will celebrate the centenary of India's independence, the centenary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and 50 years of the strategic partnership. 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Modi, Macron bilateral emphasises furthering India-France defence cooperation; focus on indigenous mfg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to <keyword id="19894993" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Italy" source="keywords">Italy</keyword> on Thursday to attend a Summit of the Group of Seven (G7), marking his first trip abroad after assuming office for the third consecutive term. Scheduled to be held between June 13-14 in the Apulia region and India has been been invited as an Outreach Country to the Summit, which will see participation from the seven member countries, US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the <keyword id="19895384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="European-Union" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="European Union" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="European Union">European Union</keyword>. Indian ambassador to Italy, VRao said that <keyword id="19899320" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Modi" source="keywords">PM Modi</keyword> will play an important role in one of the global platforms, to engage with other world leaders present at the <keyword id="21430934" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="G7-Summit" source="keywords">G7 Summit</keyword> on issues of importance to India, as well as to the Global South. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had invited PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit. It will be India's 11th participation in the G7 Summit and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit. On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings and discussions with the leaders of the G7 and Outreach nations as well as the international organisations. Foreign Secretary Kwatra said that PM Modi is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and the two leaders are expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties. Addressing a special briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the visit assumes significance as it will be Prime Minister's first overseas travel after assuming office in his third consecutive term. "It will also afford him an opportunity to engage with other world leaders present at the G7 Summit on issues of importance to India, as also to the Global South. This will be India's 11th participation in G7 Summit and Prime Minister Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit," he said. Kwatra said that the focus of the G7 Summit's Outreach Session will be on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean. He noted that India's participation at the G7 Summit points to increasing recognition and contribution of the efforts that India has been making in trying to resolve global challenges. "It will be a bloc agenda item where the G7 and the Outreach Countries would share their views and perspective. India's regular participation at the G7 Summit clearly points to increasing recognition and contribution of the efforts that India has been consistently making in trying to resolve global challenges, including those of peace, security, development, and environment preservation." "India's participation at this G7 Summit acquires particular salience in context of India's recently held, not so recent, presidency of the G20, where India took a leading role in building global consensus on a number of contentious issues. As you are also aware, India has so far organized two sessions of the Voice of the Global South Summit, which have been aimed at bringing the interests, priorities, and concerns of the Global South on the global stage. At G7 also, we have always brought the issues of Global South to the forefront," he added. On January 1, Italy assumed the G7 Presidency for the seventh time. Notably, the G7 nations are the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK. Leaders of the seven member States, as well as the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission representing the European Union will attend the G7 Summit. Several States, including India, Turkiye and international organisations like the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have also been invited by Italy to the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit. In the special briefing, Kwatra said that Italy is also India's partner in several global initiatives launched by India, including the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative, Global Biofuel Alliance, and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). On June 12, the Indian ambassador to Italy, Vani Rao said that PM Modi will play an important role in one of the global platforms, to engage with other world leaders present at the G7 Summit on issues of importance to India, as well as to the Global South. Italy, which has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions, is India's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at USD 15 billion. The two countries have close and friendly relations and celebrated 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations last year. PM Modi visited Italy for the G20 Summit in October 2021 and the Italian PM visited India on a State visit in March 2023 and was Chief Guest at Raisina Dialogue. She also visited India for the G20 Summit held under India's Presidency in September last year. The bilateral relations between India and Italy were upgraded to the level of 'Strategic Partnership' with a focus on defence, science and technology, Indo-Pacific and energy during her visit. There have been several high-level engagements between the two sides since the State visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India. Several ministers from Italy visited India in 2023 for G20-related meetings and held bilateral meetings on the sidelines including the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Finance, Agriculture, Education and Culture Ministers. Speaker and President of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies participated in the P20 meeting last year. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Italy in November, October and April last year respectively. It is the first time that PM Modi is travelling to a European nation on his first overseas visit after assuming office. After assuming office for the first time in 2014, PM Modi made his first foreign trip to Bhutan and reaffirmed his commitment to enhance bilateral ties. During his visit from June 15-16 in 2014, PM Modi met Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema. He also met his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay. For his visit, PM Modi was accompanied by then-External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and then-Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh. His first visit abroad came days after he was sworn in as PM in New Delhi on May 26 2014. During his visit, he addressed the Joint Sitting of the Parliament and inaugurated the new Supreme Court building which was constructed with assistance from the Government of India assistance. After taking oath for the second time in 2019, PM Modi made his first overseas visit to Maldives. At the invitation of then-Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, PM Modi travelled to Male for a two-day State visit to Maldives from June 8-9 in 2019. After a ceremonial welcome in Male, Solih and PM Modi held one-on-one talks followed by delegation-level talks, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) release. The two leaders had reiterated their strong commitment to further strengthening "strong and friendly relations" between India and the Maldives, nurtured by geographical contiguity, and ethnic, historical, socio-economic and cultural ties between the peoples of the two countries, according to MEA release. He also delivered the address in the Maldivian Parliament. PM Modi spoke about India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and called the Maldives a priority for India in the neighbourhood. He had also announced that India will contribute to the conservation of Maldives' Friday Mosque. 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PM Modi heads to Italy today for G7 Summit, first overseas visit after assuming office for third term

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47431569.cms" /> It's been one whole year. <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> has both successes and failures in his kitty. But one thing for sure, he has traveled quite much compared to any of his predecessors. Ixigo.com, a travel based web portal has brought out a slide show that details Modi's travel throughout one year. 
 
Have a look: 
 
 
<iframe frameborder="0" height="400" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/6H1adr49Zcktvb" width="476"></iframe> 
 (<keyword id="1037643" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SlideShare">Slideshare</keyword> credit: ixigo.com)

The Prime Minister’s travel diaries!

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/46986190.cms" />This is one big reason to cheer for all Indian professionals settled in the US. India's demand for <keyword id="6379493" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Social-Security">social security</keyword> cover for its professionals in the US could be realised soon with <keyword id="6354998" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Washington">Washington</keyword> agreeing to resume talks on the matter as early as May. The development signals an improvement in Indo-US economic ties since <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">prime minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> travelled to the US in September and US president <keyword id="15962" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Barack-Obama">Barack Obama</keyword>'s New Delhi visit on Republic Day. 
 
A totalisation pact, which ensures that workers don't lose out on social security benefits, has been India's key demand in bilateral talks. Indian professionals contribute more than $1 billion each year to the US social security system without getting any benefits in return. 
 
"The US has agreed to take up our demand for a totalisation pact and in all probability there is going to be a bilateral meeting on this in May. There were no discussions on this for the last five years, so this is clearly a move forward," said a government official. 
 
India announced a slew of universal pension and social security schemes in the budgin February, including Atal Pension Yojana and Universal Social Security scheme, which will help strengthen India's negotiating position for the bilateral pact. This is the first time India is proposing to extend a universal social security scheme. 
 
"The budget announcement of pension scheme will definitely give weight to our talks," said the official. 
 
India has argued that the US social security policy discriminates against Indian workers in the US as they end up losing their social security contributions due to a discrepancy in the visa and social security regimes. While work visas are issued for a maximum of six years, eligibility for social security benefits in the US requires residence of over 10 years. 
 
The contribution by Indian professionals to the US social security programme is estimated at more than $25 billion during the past decade. 
 
Four rounds of talks on totalisation took place till 2010, which discontinued thereafter. 
 
"There was a lull on the matter for the past five years. But now we will be picking up threads from where we left and take the talks forward. The issue directly impacts our trade in services," said the official. The talks will be led by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs from the Indian side. 
 
The US social security programme constitutes 37% of government expenditure and 7% of GDP. 
 The matter had been taken up during the trade policy forum meeting in November last year, which took place after a gap of four years and saw comprehensive discussions on all aspects of bilateral trade and investment. It was co-chaired by commerce and industry minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> and her US counterpart <keyword id="126957" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Michael-Froman">Michael Froman</keyword>. 
 
The trade policy forum is the principal trade dialogue body between the two countries, with five focus groups - agriculture, investment, innovation and creativity, services and tariff and non-tariff barriers. 
 
At present, bilateral trade is about $100 billion. 
 
The US has entered into totalisation pacts with 24 nations. 
 
"Both India and the US have entered into similar agreements with countries like Denmark, Belgium, Germany and Canada and there is no reason why such an agreement cannot be concluded between India and the US," said the official.

You Searched For "Modi travel" and got 6 results

PM Modi to take new term's first trip abroad this week, travel to Italy for G7 summit

PTI

PM Modi set to make records as India’s most travelled PM ever

BI India Bureau

Modi, Macron bilateral emphasises furthering India-France defence cooperation; focus on indigenous mfg

ANI

PM Modi heads to Italy today for G7 Summit, first overseas visit after assuming office for third term

ANI

The Prime Minister’s travel diaries!

BI India Bureau

Indian's working in US could soon get social security cover

BI India Bureau