VOIWORLD/Sumit Chaturvedi
In an exclusive interaction with Sumit Chaturvedi, Editor-In- Chief, VOIWORLD.COM, Consul General of India, Milan, Mr Lavanya Kumar highlighted India’s growing academic and cultural engagement with Italy. The Indian diplomat also encouraged students to view Italy as a promising destination for higher education, especially in fields like automobile engineering, fashion design, finance, architecture, and urban planning. However, Mr Kumar also pointed out a key challenge — limited knowledge of the Italian language often restricts students when they seek internships or job opportunities. To address this, the Consulate has launched initiatives such as Career Connect programmes linking students with Italian companies and Italian language classes for Indian students. Here is an excerpt of the conversation
Q&A
Sumit Chaturvedi, Editor-In- Chief, VOIWORLD.COM: What is the situation of Indian students currently studying in Italy. How large is this community, and what kind of courses are they pursuing?
Sumit Chaturvedi, Editor-In- Chief, VOIWORLD.COM: How do you see the role of these students in India–Italy relations?
Lavanya Kumar, Consul General of India, Milan: These students are our future brand ambassadors. Their presence and experiences will help deepen people-to-people and educational ties between India and Italy. Many universities already have research collaborations with Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), especially in engineering and technology, and this partnership is likely to expand.
Sumit Chaturvedi, Editor-In- Chief, VOIWORLD.COM: You’ve spoken earlier about employability and language skills. What initiatives has the consulate undertaken to support students during and after their studies?
Lavanya Kumar, Consul General of India, Milan: While Italy offers world-class education, many Indian students face challenges when seeking internships or jobs due to limited knowledge of the Italian language. To address this, we have launched two key initiatives.
First, we organized a Career Connect Programme at the Consulate, where five Italian companies and placement agencies interacted directly with students. The idea was to help students understand what Italian employers look for and how to prepare for internships and job placements.
Second, we’ve started offering Italian language classes at the Consulate for Indian students. The response has been very encouraging. We want them not only to gain academic excellence but also to experience full cultural and professional immersion during their stay in Italy.
Sumit Chaturvedi, Editor-In- Chief, VOIWORLD.COM: What is your message for Indian students planning to come to Italy?
Lavanya Kumar, Consul General of India, Milan: I would strongly recommend Italy as a study destination, especially for courses like automobile engineering, fashion design, finance, architecture, and urban planning. These are sectors where Italy has immense expertise and global recognition.
At the same time, I urge students to start learning Italian from day one. Italians are warm, friendly, and share many cultural similarities with Indians — strong family values, love for food, and a deep sense of community. Building friendships with locals and understanding their culture will make their experience far more enriching.
Sumit Chaturvedi, Editor-In- Chief, VOIWORLD.COM: Apart from students, how large is the Indian community in Italy? What kind of occupations are they engaged in?
Lavanya Kumar, Consul General of India, Milan: We have an estimated 150,000 Indians living in Northern Italy, which is the industrial and manufacturing hub of the country. Most of them are engaged in agriculture, dairy, logistics, warehousing, and the stone-cutting and jewelry industries. A smaller segment works in petrochemicals and IT. Communities are concentrated mainly in regions such as Bergamo, Brescia, and Padova.
Sumit Chaturvedi, Editor-In- Chief, VOIWORLD.COM: How does the Consulate support the Indian community in these areas?
Lavanya Kumar, Consul General of India, Milan: We regularly conduct community outreach programmes and organize three to four consular camps every year. These camps allow people to access consular services without having to travel to the Consulate and lose a day’s wages. It saves both time and money for the workers and helps us gather direct feedback on their needs and challenges.
Our objective is to stay closely connected with the Indian diaspora, address their issues promptly, and strengthen their sense of belonging while they contribute meaningfully to Italy’s economy.
