Although Italy and India have maintained important relations since ancient times, significant Indian migration to Italy is a recent phenomenon. Many Indians began immigrating to Italy in the early 1990s, when the Italian government initiated programs to get INdian ITs and engineers to contribute to the technology sector in Italy.
Many came from the Punjab and have become entrepreneurs and are active in the restaurant and retail fields associated with Italy's large tourism industry. About half of the total Indian migrant population in Italy live in the agricultural areas of the central and northern regions of the country, especially in the areas around Rome and Milan.
Most Indians have integrated successfully into Italian life, and local authorities and people are impressed with their contributions to the Italian economy. They have been found to be generally very industrious, business-minded, entrepreneurial and law-abiding.
Most Indians have retained their religious practices, namely Hinduism and Sikhism. There are numerous temples and gurdwaras as well as ISKCON centres.