Italy’s enterprises minister to visit Türkiye for bilateral talks
Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso addresses a joint press conference with his French and German counterparts at the German Finance Ministry in Berlin on June 26, 2023. (AFP Photo)
Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, will visit Türkiye for a two-day official trip on Feb. 17-18, according to a statement from the ministry.
Strengthening economic and industrial ties
Urso is set to hold official meetings in Istanbul, engaging with Turkish political officials, business representatives, and executives of Italian companies operating in Türkiye.
The visit comes amid increasingly close relations between Rome and Ankara.
One of the key meetings reportedly will be with Türkiye’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir to discuss industrial cooperation and potential collaboration opportunities between Italian and Turkish companies.
“The meeting with Kacir is part of the ongoing dialogue between the two ministers and takes place at a time when Türkiye is making significant investments in its manufacturing sector. This cooperation offers important opportunities for Italian companies,” the statement said.
Baykar’s acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace a key agenda item
A major topic on Urso’s agenda will be Turkish defense giant Baykar’s acquisition of Italy’s longstanding aerospace firm, Piaggio Aerospace.
The ministry noted that this acquisition opens new doors for industrial collaboration between the two countries.
Another critical subject will be the restructuring plan announced by Beko following its acquisition of Whirlpool’s facilities in Italy. The Italian government has activated its “Golden Power” mechanism, imposing specific conditions on the deal.
Urso is expected to meet with Beko executives to discuss employment protections and the preservation of production facilities in Italy.
Expanding cooperation beyond aerospace and manufacturing
Beyond aerospace and manufacturing, discussions will extend to key sectors such as raw materials, the steel industry, and pharmaceuticals. The ministry highlighted that Italy and Türkiye aim to strengthen their existing partnership while exploring new opportunities for cooperation.
Türkiye’s strategic importance in trade and energy
The statement emphasized Türkiye’s role as one of Italy‘s most significant trade partners outside the EU, with bilateral trade exceeding €26 billion ($27.28 billion).
“Türkiye is a key trade, energy security, and stability partner in the Mediterranean region. It hosts the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which diversifies Europe’s gas supply. Economic and geopolitical cooperation between the two nations is also being discussed under Italy’s Mattei Plan, which aims to enhance industrial and strategic partnerships in Africa,” it noted.
Urso’s visit is seen as part of the broader strengthening of bilateral relations, reinforced by recent high-level meetings between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The discussions are also expected to set the groundwork for an upcoming intergovernmental summit.
NATO and EU relations in focus
Beyond economic ties, the statement underlined Türkiye’s strategic importance as a NATO ally and a country engaged in a Customs Union agreement with the EU. “Türkiye plays a decisive role in Euro-Mediterranean security and remains engaged in an ongoing EU accession process,” it stated.
High-profile delegation accompanying Urso
Urso will be accompanied by Stefano Pontecorvo, chairman of Italy’s aerospace and defense firm Leonardo; Matteo Zoppas, president of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE); and Teodoro Valente, president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
Future aerospace and defense partnerships
In a Feb. 14 interview with Il Messaggero, Urso stated that the Baykar-Piaggio Aerospace deal could elevate Italy as a key player in drone production, potentially leading to a broader technological and industrial partnership between the two countries.
“Following the agreement between Baykar and Piaggio Aerospace, Italy can become a major player in UAV production. A broader technological and industrial partnership between Italy and Türkiye could emerge. We are also exploring additional collaborations with Leonardo and other industry leaders to strengthen our aerospace sector and European leadership,” he said.
On X, formerly Twitter, Urso commented, “Thanks to Baykar’s industrial, financial, and technological commitments, we can now say that Piaggio Aerospace has a solid future.”
Urso also noted that the Baykar-Piaggio Aerospace partnership presents new perspectives for UAV production targeting the European market.
