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Narendra Modi has maintained that he will seek a free-trade pact with the EU [Xinhua]
Gentiloni will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in talks that are likely to focus on improving ties that have been strained for over five years after two Italian marines shot and killed two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012.
The two marines were arrested by Indian authorities but subsequently let go after a feud between Delhi and Rome over jurisdiction.
Gentiloni will also meet with President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu as well as hold talks with a number of business leaders in New Delhi.
The Italian prime minister is heading a delegation of 15 prominent businessmen who will explore trade and investment opportunities with their Indian counterparts. Italy is considered the 13th largest investor in India.
In 2016, trade between the two countries reached nearly $9 billion.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
