India‑Italy partnership upgraded as Modi’s toffee gift sparks viral “Melodi” frenzy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s final stop of a five‑nation diplomatic tour was Italy, where he and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni elevated bilateral ties to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership’. The leaders reviewed the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025‑2029, set a target of €20 billion in trade by 2029 and signed MoUs covering defence, AI, critical minerals, space, clean energy and the India‑Middle‑East‑Europe Economic Corridor.
During a joint dinner in Rome, Modi presented Meloni with a packet of India’s popular Melody toffee. The exchange was filmed and posted by Meloni, triggering the hashtag “Melodi” – a blend of the two leaders’ names – and amassing over 100 million views within hours. Searches for “Parle” and “Melody” surged, and the viral moment lifted the share price of unrelated Parle Industries by about 5 percent, despite the company not manufacturing the candy.
The visit also featured broader tour achievements, including $40 billion in investment commitments across the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, underscoring India’s push to attract high‑tech FDI and diversify supply chains. The diplomatic outcomes and the unexpected market reaction illustrate the growing strategic importance of India‑Italy relations and the power of social‑media‑driven visibility.