From textiles to space, all the agreements that bring Italy and Turkey closer together

The Italian-Turkish summit marks a significant stage in the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries, where the two Prime Ministers are aiming at a strategic partnership. During the summit, the Italian and Turkish governments will formalise a series of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation, starting with the development of economic and trade relations. The exchange between the two nations has grown significantly in recent years on the strength of common histories and interests that unite them: from infrastructure to transport; from archaeology to sport.

Giorgia Meloni welcomes Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is aware that he is Ankara's leading trade partner in the Mediterranean region. Despite the fact that in the first two months of 2025 there was a contraction in trade between the two countries compared to the same two months of 2024. According to data released by the Ice Agency in Istanbul, the trade balance shows a positive balance for Italy of USD 96.950 mln. In January last year, the trade between Italy and Turkey, amounting to USD 2.186bn, increased by 13% compared to the same month in 2023. Specifically, Italian exports to Turkey increased by 16.3% (USD 1.187bn), while imports grew by 9.3%) and stood at USD 998.7m. The trade balance showed a positive balance for Italy of USD 188.3 mln.

Italy and Turkey are strengthening their cooperation in the aerospace sector, with the acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace by Baykar - a private Turkish company active in the defence sector and in particular in the production of remotely piloted aircraft and command and control systems. This collaboration concerns both the aerospace industry and other key sectors such as critical raw materials, iron and steel and pharmaceuticals - in January 2024, sales in this sector, for Italian exports, were marked by +90.7%. The TB2 drone player, which came to the forefront of the European scene during their constant use during the war in Ukraine, is thus acquiring both the aeronautical and engine branches of the Italian company, and announcing its intention to re-launch its employment. Thus strengthening the relationship already started with the development of the Gokturk-1 satellite, launched in 2016.

Turkey is one of the main world markets for textile machinery manufacturers, of which Italy is one of the world leaders. Marco Salvadè, president of Acimit (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) comments: 'The Italian textile machinery industry has a strong tradition of partnership with Turkish textile companies. From 2011 to 2023, the local textile industry has invested about 80 billion Usd in new technologies and very often these investments have involved the purchase of Italian machinery'. A sector that in Italy has 300 companies, about 12,900 employees and exports in 2023 of 2 billion Euro.

Strengthened by their archaeological component to be preserved, talks with the Minister of Tourism - Daniela Santanchè - and the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey - Mehmet Nuri Ersoy - focused on the prospects of strengthening cooperation in the sector, with particular attention to the issues of sustainability and connectivity between the countries. Meetings that are 'valuable for cultivating international relations and developing ties with important markets with a great deal of potential' that has not yet been fully expressed, said Santanchè. A 'bridge of peace' to develop common projects. During the meeting - with his Turkish counterpart - Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli examined the numerous collaborations between the two nations in the fields of archaeology, cultural heritage conservation and contemporary creativity. According to the data reported at the meeting, 2024 saw an increase of over 9% in Turkish tourist arrivals in Italy, a dynamic that, if supported by common policies, can be consolidated in the coming years, contributing to a synergic re-launch of the Mediterranean as a shared cultural destination.