HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister meets Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in Rome

His Royal Highness outlined the importance of deepening the strategic partnership across all levels, creating new opportunities aligned with the shared aims and objectives of both countries.

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad commended Italy’s role in promoting regional and global security and peace, noting that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, remains steadfast in its efforts to secure peace and advance the values of tolerance, coexistence, and dialogue globally.

His Royal Highness emphasised the importance of the agreements, memoranda of understanding, and declarations to be signed during the visit, stating that they reflect tangible strides in advancing bilateral relations to consolidate existing partnerships and advance new areas of cooperation.

In the presence of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad and HE Meloni, a Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership (SIP) was signed between the Ministry of Finance and National Economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy of the Italian Republic. The SIP was signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain by HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, and on behalf of the Italian Republic by HE Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy.

During the official visit, the following was announced:

•⁠ ⁠Collaboration in space science, technology, and applications between the Bahrain Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency.
•⁠ Enhancing cooperation, developing customs work mechanisms, strengthening customs control, and safeguarding supply chains between the Customs Affairs Department of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Customs and Monopolies Authority of the Italian Republic.

Also during the official visit, the following was signed:

* A Framework Collaboration Agreement on cooperation in investments, signed between Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat) and Investindustrial. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain by His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat, and on behalf of Investindustrial by Andrea Bonomi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Investindustrial.

* An agreement on a bilateral banking partnership in the fields of trade and investment was signed between the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) and Banco BPM. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain by Hala Yateem, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the NBB, and on behalf of the Italian Republic by Massimo Tononi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Banco BPM S.p.A.

* An agreement of the Italian-Bahraini Business Council, to enhance bilateral cooperation and trade partnerships, signed on the Bahraini side by Mr Khalid Rashid Al Zayani, Co-Chairman of the Italian-Bahraini Business Council, and on the Italian side by Mr Ignazio Moncada, Co-Chairman of the Italian-Bahraini Business Council.

During the meeting, both parties discussed ways to further consolidate the Bahrain-Italy partnership across all fields, in addition to the latest regional and international developments and issues of common interest.

For her part, HE Meloni commended the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in advancing cooperation, stability, and peace in the region and beyond. HE Meloni also welcomed the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, noting that it reflects the shared commitment and mutual interest in strengthening Bahraini-Italian relations in pursuit of common goals and aspirations.

His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Court, HE Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, and several senior officials also attended the meeting.

Joint Statement between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Within the framework of the visit of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Italy, the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, welcomed His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on September 29, 2025. The two leaders agreed on the following statement.

Italy and Bahrain are committed to strengthening and expanding the strong cooperation that exists between the two Nations across all sectors, rooted in their common objectives and shared interests.

Both Parties welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a Strategic Investments and Collaboration Partnership (SIP) that will enhance economic relations and increase trade and investments between the two Nations, with the partnership committing to investments in excess of one billion euros.

Italy and Bahrain committed to reinforcing their existing vital defence partnership, both at the military and industrial levels. Italy expressed its gratitude to Bahrain for hosting the Italian Navy Contingent within the Combined Maritime Forces.

The Parties agreed to further increase cooperation on energy security and energy transition, with a technologically neutral approach and with a focus on industrial collaboration, research and development, energy diversification and ecologic transition, cooperation on water management and waste to energy, as well as engaging with the public and private sectors in both countries.

Italy and Bahrain will also increase their cooperation in the construction, transport, tourism and smart cities fields, including housing and urban planning, with the aim of exploring additional opportunities for Italian firms to contribute to the development and expansion of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s state of the art infrastructure.

The Parties will seek to increase their cooperation in the field of food security to ensure a sustainable and safe food chain supply, and to contribute to a basic level of nutrition. Italy and Bahrain will also work together on industrial partnerships, research and innovation, development cooperation activities and institutional collaborations, to support Bahrain’s goals to both raise the Kingdom's food security level and support its national food production.

The two Parties also agreed to collaborate on future customs cooperation and building upon the Memorandum of Understanding – signed between the two Nations in February 2025 - between the Customs and Monopolies Agency of the Italian Republic and the Customs Affairs under the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The two Nations agreed to work closer together on key customs areas, in support of efforts to promote international trade and strengthen the national economy. As well as agreeing new measures to establish a Technical Committee to coordinate on best practice, deliver capacity building and organise cooperative study visits.

In addition, the two Parties agreed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bahrain Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space, Space Sciences, Technologies, and Applications. The MoU seeks to enhance cooperation between the two parties in the fields of space sciences, technology, and applications. The MoU will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and provide opportunities for training, joint research and other areas of collaboration.

In addition, the two Parties reflected on the depth of cooperation on important regional and global issues and reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, with the United Nations (UN) at its core. Italy congratulated Bahrain on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2026-27.

Both Parties recognised that migration is a global issue, requiring a collective and international commitment to address the challenges it poses with a comprehensive approach that includes innovative solutions. They acknowledged the need for stronger international cooperation to curb transnational organised crime and counter human trafficking, while recognising each other’s efforts in this area.

Italy and Bahrain committed to continue working together to bring peace and stability to the Middle East. They called for the immediate end of the war in Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages and condemned any unilateral or violent action in the West Bank that undermine the two-State solution. Both Parties called for full and safe humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza, as well as the release of all withheld Palestinian clearance revenues.
They confirmed their support for a two-State solution with an independent State of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions.

The Parties underlined their commitment to the territorial integrity, unity, and sovereignty of Syria. They expressed their support for Syria’s economic recovery and reconstruction and the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Syrians through cooperation with UN agencies such as UNHCR and IOM.

Italy and Bahrain stressed the importance of Iranian compliance with its legally binding nuclear safeguard obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Both Parties reiterated their support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which can only be achieved through the resumption of serious negotiations.

Italy and Bahrain will also continue efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace to Ukraine.

Italy and Bahrain also underlined their commitment to building closer relations between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), particularly ahead of the upcoming Bahraini Presidency of the GCC, the next Summit of the organisation due to be held in Manama in December, and the EU-GCC Summit in 2026 in Riyadh.

Agreements signed during HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s official visit to the Vatican City State and the Italian Republic: 29 September 2025

In line with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Italian Republic, and as part of the official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the Vatican City State and the Italian Republic, several agreements were signed between Bahrain and Italy.

HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy and HE Mr. Valentino Valentini, Deputy Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, witnessed the signing of several agreements, in Rome, Italy.

The following agreements were signed:

1. A Framework Collaboration Agreement on cooperation in investments, signed between Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat) and Investindustrial. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain by His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat, and on behalf of Investindustrial by Andrea Bonomi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Investindustrial.

2. ⁠An agreement on a bilateral banking partnership in the fields of trade and investment was signed between the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) and Banco BPM. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain by Hala Yateem, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the NBB, and on behalf of the Italian Republic by Massimo Tononi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Banco BPM S.p.A.

3. An agreement of the Italian-Bahraini Business Council, to enhance bilateral cooperation and trade partnerships, signed on the Bahraini side by Mr Khalid Rashid Al Zayani, Co-Chairman of the Italian-Bahraini Business Council, and on the Italian side by Mr Ignazio Moncada, Co-Chairman of the Italian-Bahraini Business Council.

These agreements aim to enhance the strategic partnership between Bahrain and Italy by expanding avenues of cooperation and creating new economic and investment opportunities that support the shared aspirations of both countries and deliver growth.

Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and several senior officials, were also present.