Campania is strengthening its position in the international aerospace industry through a new strategic partnership with Türkiye, opening up opportunities for industrial cooperation, technological innovation, investment, and business development. A significant milestone was reached on November 4, 2026, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Campania Aerospace District (DAC) and OSSA, Ankara’s aerospace and defense cluster, at the headquarters of Confindustria Caserta.
The agreement was signed by Luigi Carrino, President of the Campania Aerospace District, and İbrahim Yarsan, Chairman of OSSA, during a three-day business mission involving representatives of the Turkish aerospace and defense industry. The initiative aims to strengthen economic and technological relations between Italy and Türkiye by encouraging industrial partnerships, joint research projects, knowledge exchange, and new commercial opportunities.
The agreement represents an important step in the internationalization strategy pursued by the Campania Aerospace District, which has been working for several years to establish lasting relationships with leading Turkish aerospace clusters and companies. Its objective is to move beyond institutional dialogue and create concrete opportunities for cooperation between businesses operating in the aviation, space, and defense sectors.
The initiative is particularly significant for Campania, a region with a highly specialized aerospace industrial ecosystem supported by manufacturing companies, universities, research institutions, and technological innovation centers. From Caserta and Naples to Avellino and Benevento, aerospace activities contribute to regional economic development, technological competitiveness, and the creation of highly skilled employment.
The signing ceremony at Confindustria Caserta opened with institutional remarks by Luigi Della Gatta, President of Confindustria Caserta, and Luigi Carrino, President of DAC. Representatives of ACA, the aerospace cluster based in İzmir, and Selman Tokpunar of Invest in Türkiye also attended, highlighting the growing interest in strengthening industrial connections between the two countries.
The agreement with OSSA is the result of a cooperation process developed over several years. DAC has progressively established relations with three major Turkish aerospace clusters: SAHA in Istanbul, OSSA in Ankara, and ACA in İzmir.
An important milestone occurred on June 10, 2024, when DAC hosted a meeting in Naples with representatives of the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, leading Turkish aerospace companies, and members of the SAHA cluster. Several companies associated with the Campania Aerospace District also participated, laying the groundwork for future cooperation.
In May 2025, DAC organized an industrial mission to Türkiye, including visits to the SAHA and ACA clusters and meetings with major companies in the Turkish aerospace sector. Among them was Baykar, the Turkish manufacturer specializing in unmanned aerial systems, which acquired Piaggio Aerospace and established a partnership with Leonardo for the development of advanced unmanned aircraft.
During that mission, DAC signed its first Memorandum of Understanding with SAHA, creating a framework to support business relations and technological collaboration between companies belonging to the two clusters.
The relationship continued through participation in major international industry events, including the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget in June 2025 and the IDEF defense exhibition in Istanbul in July of the same year.
In May 2026, another DAC delegation attended SAHA EXPO, accompanied by representatives of member companies. The mission included business-to-business meetings and discussions with prominent Turkish aerospace and defense manufacturers such as Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Turkish Engine Industries (TEI), Baykar, and Roketsan, as well as representatives of SAHA, OSSA, and ACA.
These meetings helped create the conditions for the Turkish delegation’s visit to Campania, promoted by OSSA with the participation of the ACA cluster from İzmir. The agreement signed in Caserta therefore marks a new stage in a long-term strategy designed to turn international contacts into structured industrial relationships.
Speaking at the ceremony, Luigi Carrino emphasized the importance of continuity in the relationship between the Italian and Turkish aerospace industries.
“The journey that brings us here began in Naples in June 2024. Since then, we have created opportunities for meetings, missions, and cooperation with Turkish aerospace districts. With the memorandum we are signing today with OSSA, we are also giving continuity to our relationship with the Ankara cluster,” Carrino stated.
The DAC President also highlighted the importance of extending the benefits of aerospace development beyond Campania’s major urban centers, recognizing the contribution made by companies and research institutions located in the region’s inland provinces.
“To understand Campania’s aerospace industry, we must also look at the provinces and inland areas of our region. From the Caserta area to Sannio and Irpinia, companies, universities, and research centers contribute, each with their own specializations, to the aeronautics and space supply chains.”
According to Carrino, international industrial partnerships can generate important economic and employment opportunities, particularly in territories where technological innovation has the potential to stimulate new investment.
“Aerospace can do a great deal for these territories. A company that finds a partner with whom to develop a product has one more reason to invest here, in a production facility, a laboratory, or workforce training. And for the young women and men of these areas, it may create the opportunity to work on an international program in the place where they grew up.”
His remarks underline one of the most important objectives of Campania’s aerospace development strategy: creating high-quality employment opportunities capable of retaining young talent and attracting investment in advanced manufacturing and scientific research.
The growth of the aerospace sector could strengthen the region’s industrial infrastructure while supporting the development of engineering, research, and specialized technical skills.
Carrino concluded by expressing his hope that the agreement would lead to concrete joint industrial projects.
“I hope that projects will emerge from Caserta in which Italy and Türkiye can each contribute the best of their expertise, in a spirit of friendship and loyal cooperation.”
The economic importance of the initiative was also emphasized by Luigi Della Gatta, President of Confindustria Caserta, who described aerospace as a strategic industry for the province and the wider Campania region.
“I thank DAC and President Carrino for choosing Confindustria Caserta for this meeting dedicated to aerospace, a sector in which the province of Caserta and Campania have important companies and can express further potential. Our strategy focuses precisely on strategic supply chains capable of supporting sectors experiencing difficulties, such as the automotive industry. Initiatives like this are of great interest because they can encourage new industrial integration and bring new business opportunities to the territory.”
His statement reflects the broader challenge facing the regional economy: supporting traditional manufacturing while promoting innovative industries capable of generating sustainable growth and attracting international partnerships.
The aerospace sector, with its extensive supply chains involving precision engineering, advanced materials, electronics, digital systems, and specialized manufacturing, offers significant opportunities for companies seeking to diversify their activities and expand into high-value markets.
From the Turkish perspective, İbrahim Yarsan, Chairman of OSSA, emphasized the potential for technological cooperation and the development of shared industrial capabilities.
“This agreement is important for strengthening commercial and technological cooperation between Italy and Türkiye. This synergy can generate significant growth in expertise: we are two countries united by one sky. Together, we can grow.”
The message reflects the shared ambition to strengthen industrial competitiveness through international collaboration, connecting complementary technological expertise and creating opportunities for companies on both sides.
Beyond the institutional significance of the memorandum, the Turkish delegation’s visit includes an extensive program of business-to-business meetings, technical discussions, and visits to leading aerospace companies and research facilities throughout Campania.
The mission is designed to provide Turkish industrial representatives with firsthand knowledge of the region’s manufacturing capabilities, research infrastructure, and technological expertise, while facilitating direct contact with potential Italian partners.
Following the signing ceremony and presentations of the respective aerospace ecosystems, participating companies engaged in business meetings aimed at identifying areas of mutual interest, production requirements, possible commercial agreements, and joint development opportunities.
On November 4, the delegation’s itinerary focused on the inland areas of Irpinia and Sannio, with visits scheduled to LAER in Airola, SAB Aerospace in Paduli, and Powerflex, part of Mare Group, in Limatola.
These visits were intended to showcase the technological and industrial capabilities of companies operating outside the region’s major metropolitan areas, demonstrating the role that smaller industrial centers play in the aerospace supply chain.
On November 5, the mission continued across the Naples metropolitan area and the province of Caserta, with visits scheduled to CTM Avio, part of Mare Group, in Acerra; A. Abete in Nola; the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) in Capua; and CMD in Caserta.
The inclusion of CIRA is particularly important, given its role as one of Italy’s leading aerospace research institutions. Its activities connect scientific research, technological experimentation, and industrial innovation, contributing to the development of advanced aerospace capabilities.
The company visits and technical meetings are intended to help participating organizations explore opportunities for cooperation in manufacturing, engineering, research, and technology development.
For Campania’s small and medium-sized enterprises, access to international industrial networks represents a significant opportunity to expand their customer base, strengthen technological expertise, and participate in more complex industrial programs.
The cooperation with Turkish aerospace clusters could also encourage future initiatives involving advanced aeronautical systems, space technologies, precision components, aerospace engineering, and applied research.
However, the real impact of the agreement will depend on the ability of participating organizations to translate institutional commitments into operational projects, commercial contracts, research partnerships, and investment decisions.
In this context, the relationship between Campania and Türkiye has the potential to enhance the international competitiveness of both aerospace ecosystems, encouraging technological exchange while strengthening regional industrial capabilities.
The choice of Caserta as the location for the signing ceremony carries particular significance. Together with Naples, Benevento, and Avellino, the province plays an important role in Campania’s aerospace industry and could benefit from stronger international connections and new investment opportunities.
The agreement also confirms DAC’s approach to internationalization as a continuous process rather than a series of isolated trade missions or exhibition appearances. By combining institutional dialogue, direct business meetings, and technical visits, the district seeks to build the foundations for lasting partnerships between companies.
The Memorandum of Understanding between DAC and OSSA does not yet represent the announcement of specific new factories, confirmed contracts, or finalized joint ventures. Instead, it establishes a framework within which businesses can develop industrial projects, explore new markets, and identify opportunities for long-term cooperation.
The broader ambition is to strengthen Campania’s position as a competitive European aerospace hub, capable of combining manufacturing excellence, technological innovation, scientific research, and international business relationships.
For the region, the partnership with Türkiye represents more than a diplomatic achievement. It offers a potential route toward economic growth, advanced industrial development, investment attraction, and skilled employment, particularly for younger generations.
By bringing together businesses, universities, research institutions, and international aerospace clusters, the Campania Aerospace District aims to transform cooperation into tangible industrial opportunities, reinforcing the role of Southern Italy in the global aerospace industry.
The agreement signed in Caserta therefore opens a new chapter in aerospace relations between Italy and Türkiye, based on a shared commitment to innovation, industrial competitiveness, and mutually beneficial economic development.
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