Strengthening Cooperation between Basque Aerospace Industry and Occitania

Mikel Jauregi emphasizes the goal of creating quality, technologically advanced jobs during the mission to Tolosa.

Generic image: Close-up of a metallic component with intricate gears and circuits, set against a blurred background of a modern industrial facility in Euskadi, soft ambient lighting.
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Generic image: Close-up of a metallic component with intricate gears and circuits, set against a blurred background of a modern industrial facility in Euskadi, soft ambient lighting.

An institutional and business delegation, led by Lehendakari Imanol Pradales and Councillor Mikel Jauregi, has undertaken a mission to Tolosa, France, to bolster cooperation between Euskadi and Occitania and explore new avenues for the Basque aerospace industry.

The visit aims to enhance collaboration between Euskadi and Occitania, a major European aeronautical and space hub, and to identify new opportunities for the Basque aerospace sector. Tolosa has established itself as a key reference point for the future of the European aerospace industry.
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"The aerospace industry is a high-growth sector that generates quality jobs, and we want to create technologically advanced jobs."

Mikel Jauregi · Minister of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability
As part of this mission, the Basque delegation is holding meetings with representatives from leading companies such as Airbus, Safran, Liebherr, and ATR. The objective is to strengthen industrial and commercial ties between Euskadi and the French region of Occitania, seeking new collaboration opportunities in an environment demanding increased production capacity.
The strengths of the Basque industry in areas like machining, automation, tooling, metrology, and advanced manufacturing align with the growth needs of Tolosa's aerospace industry supply chain. Euskadi already has a significant presence in the region, with 11 Basque companies operating 12 facilities, and the aim is to deepen this relationship, making Tolosa a strategic and priority market for Basque industry. Furthermore, collaboration between companies, technology centers, and specialized talent is being promoted.
The Basque aerospace sector is identified as one of the strategic sectors within the Euskadi 2030 – Industry Plan. In 2025, the sector achieved a consolidated turnover exceeding 3.4 billion euros, with exports around 2.9 billion euros (85% directed to international markets), and employed approximately 6,500 people. It also invested 213 million euros in technological R&D, reinforcing its status as one of Euskadi's industries with high technological intensity and growth potential.
Based on information from the official source: SPRI — Agencia Vasca de Desarrollo Empresarial (20/10/2026)