On 3 and 4 March, the Italian Ambassador to France Emanuela D'Alessandro carried out a system mission to Toulouse - capital of the Occitania Region and the Haute-Garonne Department - accompanied by Consul General in Marseille Fabio Monaco, First Social and Cultural Counsellor Andrea Macchioni, and Economic Counsellor Andrea Domeniconi of the Embassy. Toulouse is now the third most populous municipality and the first metropolis by economic growth, driven by the strong development of the aerospace industry based there. In recent studies, Toulouse is also considered the most attractive and dynamic French city.
During the visit, which is part of the programme of missions aimed at promoting the strengthening of bilateral exchanges in the main centres of French territory, Ambassador D'Alessandro had a cordial and fruitful meeting at the Capitole with Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc, in which the state and prospects of cultural and economic relations between the Ville Rose and our country were discussed, as well as the contribution of the growing and qualified Italian community to local development. The Ambassador then met with a select representation of them, who are active in the intensification of cultural and economic collaborations and in the promotion of our country.
Ambassador D'Alessandro also held in-depth talks with the Prefect of the Region and the Department, Pierre-André Durand, at the Prefecture, focusing on the demographic dynamism and industrial excellence that characterise this territory, as well as on common challenges and opportunities for collaboration there.
The Ambassador visited in Blagnac, in the industrial area of Toulouse, the headquarters of Atr, an Italian-French company owned 50% by Leonardo and 50% by Airbus, world leader in the production of aircraft for regional transport. During the meeting with President Cuccaro and Managing Director Laude, and the subsequent visit to the assembly line, the main lines of operation of the company, which was established over 40 years ago and has always been able to keep up with the times with products, such as the Atr 42 and Atr 72, which have been and continue to be highly appreciated by customers all over the world and represent an excellent example of successful joint industrial cooperation between Italy and France.
The Ambassador then visited the Airbus headquarters, welcomed by the Group's Executive Vice President, Van Wersch. After a presentation of the company's results, which saw turnover reach 69 billion euros in 2024 (mainly originated by the commercial aircraft division, then by the defence/space division and finally by the helicopter division) and an order portfolio close to 8 thousand units, Airbus' growing roots in Italy were illustrated, through a network of suppliers that last year exceeded 700 million euros in value. During the meeting, the Ambassador also visited the A-350 assembly line.
Toulouse is home to the exceptional collection of works of art of the Bemberg Foundation, located in the recently restored 16th century Hôtel d'Assézat and directed by the French-Italian Ana Debenedetti, who welcomed the Ambassador for a visit to the masterpieces of Italian masters from the 16th to the 18th century that are part of the Bemberg collection.
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