GIFAS Visits Aerospace Clustering Association (ACA) in İzmir
Since its foundation in January 2010, Aerospace Clustering Association (ACA) in Izmir emphatically continues its progressive activities in aerospace. During the past years, ACA highly focused on developing strong relations with local industry and universities as well as international aerospace clusters and associations. Main objectives of ACA is to facilitate the development of SME’s capabilities for their integration to aerospace and defence related projects, supporting the efforts in training/ educating qualified technicians/technical experts for creating a talent pool and supporting the efforts in enhancing technical/technological infrastructure in the aerospace, space and defence industries in Turkey.
After signing MOU’s with major German aerospace clusters like Hanse Aerospace e.V, Aviabelt e.V., BavAiria e.v., ACA has joined “European Aerospace Cluster Partnership (EACP)” as the first aerospace cluster from Turkey, in 2011. Consequently, this membership boosted the intensity of collaboration with international clusters, as well as created awareness in aerospace industry dynamics at European level. ACA is now an active member of EACP and intends to take part in several projects relevant to its goals and objectives in near future.
Until the Paris Air Show 2013, relations between Turkish and French aerospace clusters and companies were limited. For ACA, likewise, level of interaction was limited with exhibitions, only although major aerospace clusters like Aerospace Valley, Pole Pégase, Rhone-Alpes are the members of EACP.
Following an initial meeting at the Paris Air Show 2013 at the GIFAS booth followed by SSM’s and SaSaD’s initiation for cooperation and for a potential GIFAS Mission to Turkey, GIFAS International Affairs Director had visited Izmir in October 2013, in order to get acquainted with ACA and Aegean Free Zone (ESBAS). ACA definitely supports the mission and strongly believe that GIFAS mission to Turkey on February 26-28, 2014 will be very beneficial and will improve the commercial relations bilaterally. Both governments and relevant associations are supporting this activity, as well. We hope to see the positive tendencies in the short term and the positive results in the medium term.
As part of the three days program, apart from Istanbul and Ankara visits, GIFAS delegates and several French companies will visit ACA in İzmir on February 28th, 2014. Our members will be able to either attend Ankara meetings or take place in the welcoming committee and meeting in İzmir. We expect more interactions between French companies and our members after this meeting. Depending on the results, we may consider making a reciprocal visit and tighten the relations further.
I would like to cordially thank the Under-secretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), Defence and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers Association (SaSaD) and Teknokent Defence Industry Cluster and GIFAS for their initiative and their support for facilitating the organization of such an event.
