Italy Sees India as a Strategic Aerospace Partner, Says Trade Commissioner Antonietta Baccanari

Expands Footprint & Invites Greater Industrial Collaboration
“Italy and India Have Complementary Aerospace Ecosystems”
Building the Next Chapter of Indo-Italian Aerospace Cooperation

By Sangeeta Saxena

Hyderabad. 01 July 2026. India and Italy are entering a new phase of strategic engagement, driven by converging geopolitical interests and a shared commitment to a free, open and rules-based international order. As influential democracies and key stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Mediterranean regions respectively, the two countries are expanding cooperation beyond traditional diplomacy into areas such as maritime security, critical technologies, energy transition, resilient supply chains and multilateral governance. Strengthened by the India-Italy Strategic Partnership, high-level political exchanges and growing collaboration within forums such as the G20, Indo-Italian relations are evolving into a dynamic partnership that reflects the changing contours of global geopolitics.

The India-Italy aerospace and defence partnership is gaining remarkable momentum as both nations seek to combine Italian technological excellence with India’s rapidly expanding manufacturing ecosystem. From aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing to avionics, helicopters, space technologies and defence industrial cooperation, Italian companies are increasingly viewing India as a trusted partner for innovation, production and global supply chains. Supported by initiatives such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, alongside Italy’s world-class capabilities in precision engineering and aerospace design, the relationship is creating new opportunities for joint ventures, technology transfer, research collaborations and industrial partnerships, positioning India and Italy as long-term partners in shaping the future of aerospace and defence.

As India and Italy elevate their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership, aerospace and defence have emerged among the most promising pillars of cooperation. Reflecting this growing momentum, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) participated in Aeromart Hyderabad 2026 with its first-ever Italian Pavilion, bringing nine companies representing diverse aerospace capabilities. In an exclusive conversation with Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU), Antonietta Baccanari, Trade Commissioner and Director of the Trade Promotion Section at the Embassy of Italy, as well as Coordinator for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, spoke about the expanding Indo-Italian partnership, opportunities in aerospace and space, industrial collaboration, supply-chain integration and why she believes this is the ideal time for Indian and Italian companies to work together.

ADU. Italy is a major partner at Aeromart Hyderabad 2026 and has brought a strong industry delegation. Could you tell us about Italy’s participation this year?

Antonietta Baccanari. This is the first time that the Italian Trade Agency has organised an official Italian Pavilion at Aeromart Hyderabad, and we are extremely satisfied with the response we have received so far. We have brought nine Italian companies representing different areas of expertise, including composite materials, aerospace, defence, advanced machinery, balancing systems and testing technologies. Our objective is to showcase the enormous potential for collaboration between Italy and India and to demonstrate how complementary our two aerospace ecosystems are.

This is only the beginning. We intend to continue investing in this sector and are already planning to organise Italian pavilions at future aerospace exhibitions in India.

ADU. India and Italy have enjoyed long-standing relations. How do you see this partnership evolving beyond aerospace into other strategic sectors?

Antonietta Baccanari. This is an excellent moment in the relationship between Italy and India, beginning with the political dimension. Today, our countries enjoy what can be described as a Special Strategic Partnership, which represents the highest level of diplomatic collaboration between two nations. Within this framework, aerospace has become one of the priority sectors for both governments. Both Italy and India are actively encouraging greater industrial cooperation, stronger supply-chain integration and deeper technological collaboration.

For example, we recently organised an incoming delegation from India’s space ecosystem to visit Italy during the Veneto Space Meetings. We are now participating in Aeromart Hyderabad with nine Italian companies, and we are already preparing to participate in the Bangalore Space Expo later this year. In September 2025, we also organised a major delegation together with the Italian Space Agency, reflecting the growing importance of space cooperation between our two countries.

Beyond industry, there are already strong institutional relationships between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and ISRO, and both organisations are working to strengthen their collaboration even further. From both the political and commercial perspectives, I see tremendous opportunities ahead.

ADU. Bilateral trade has also been growing steadily. How significant is this economic relationship?

Antonietta Baccanari. Bilateral trade between Italy and India has already reached approximately 14 billion Euros, and both governments are committed to increasing this substantially over the coming years. The figures themselves demonstrate the strength of our relationship, but more importantly they show the confidence that businesses from both countries have in each other. This is precisely why I believe this is the right moment for Italian and Indian companies to deepen their engagement, and why we warmly welcome every Indian initiative looking towards Italy.

ADU. This is the second day of Aeromart Hyderabad 2026. You have had extensive interactions with Indian companies—from large OEMs to MSMEs and startups. What has been your experience so far?

Antonietta Baccanari. We have been interacting with a very diverse range of Indian companies, and that is one of the strengths of our participation here. On the Italian side, we have brought different types of companies. We have niche technology companies and highly innovative firms working in specialised areas such as nanotechnology and composite materials. We also have technologically advanced SMEs that are leaders in their respective fields, particularly in machinery and manufacturing technologies.

At the same time, we have large industrial groups such as Leonardo, which is looking at India as a long-term strategic partner through its collaboration with the Adani Group. This diversity allows us to engage with Indian companies at multiple levels—from innovative startups and MSMEs to large industrial organisations and system integrators.

ADU. Large programmes invariably create opportunities across the supply chain. Do you see this becoming an important area of Indo-Italian collaboration?

Antonietta Baccanari. Absolutely. Large aerospace and defence programmes require strong and resilient supply chains, and this creates significant opportunities for companies from both countries. Many of the Italian companies participating here are looking at India not simply as an export destination but as a country where they can establish long-term industrial partnerships. Several companies are exploring opportunities for collaboration with Indian counterparts, while others are considering new investments, including joint ventures and greenfield manufacturing projects. Therefore, the opportunities extend far beyond buyer-seller relationships. They encompass manufacturing partnerships, technology collaboration, industrial cooperation and long-term investment. This creates value for companies of every size from large enterprises to innovative SMEs and specialised suppliers in both Italy and India.

ADU. Is there a message you would like to convey to the Indian aerospace and defence industry?

Antonietta Baccanari. I would simply like to emphasise that this is the right moment for Indian companies to look at Italy as a trusted and strategic partner in aerospace. Italy has a long history of excellence in aerospace engineering, manufacturing and innovation. We possess highly skilled human resources, advanced technologies and decades of industrial experience across civil aviation, defence and space. At the same time, Italian companies are looking at India with unprecedented interest. What we need now is to create even more opportunities for our industries to meet, interact and build relationships. I firmly believe that from both sides this is the ideal moment to explore every possible avenue of collaboration. The potential is enormous, and the willingness to work together has never been stronger.

The presence of nine Italian companies under the Italian Pavilion at Aeromart Hyderabad 2026 marked a significant milestone in the growing Indo-Italian aerospace partnership. Representing a diverse spectrum of capabilities—from composite materials, precision engineering and advanced manufacturing to aerospace, defence systems, testing and balancing technologies—the delegation showcased Italy’s technological excellence while exploring opportunities for long-term industrial collaboration in India. More than a national showcase, the pavilion reflected Italy’s strategic commitment to integrating with India’s rapidly expanding aerospace ecosystem through innovation, technology transfer, supply-chain partnerships and joint manufacturing initiatives.

Complementing the exhibition was the Aerospace Round Table, an exclusive high-level B2B networking platform that brought together Italian and Indian aerospace companies for focused business interactions. The round table served as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue between OEMs, Tier suppliers, MSMEs and technology innovators, enabling participants to explore partnerships in manufacturing, research, supply-chain integration, investment and co-development. By creating direct industry-to-industry engagement, the initiative transformed networking into tangible business opportunities, reinforcing Aeromart Hyderabad’s role as a gateway for international aerospace collaboration and strengthening the foundations of future Indo-Italian industrial partnerships.

Italy’s participation at Aeromart Hyderabad 2026 reflects far more than an exhibition presence—it signals the growing strategic convergence between two countries whose aerospace industries are increasingly complementary. As India strengthens its position as a global aerospace manufacturing hub and Italy seeks reliable international industrial partners, both nations are finding common ground in advanced manufacturing, space, defence, supply-chain integration and technological innovation. Antonietta Baccanari’s message was clear. the political foundation has already been laid through the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership and industry now has a unique opportunity to transform that strategic vision into meaningful collaborations, investments and long-term industrial partnerships that will benefit both ecosystems.