An important role plays the industrial area near Taranto, whose occupational activity is characterized by a strong phenomenon of commuting. In the city there are the steel industry plants of Ilva, a military arsenal and the refinery of Eni. Recently, however, the crisis  of metallurgy has reduced the number of employees in this sector. There is also the sole Italian plant of the Vestas, a company that produces Aeolian plants.
In Brindisi there is the aeronautical industry, that of plastic materials and some furniture industries. Furthermore, Brindisi is leader in the production of electric power in Italy. There are three big powerhouses: that  of ENEL, Edipower and Eni Power. It is also planned the realization of an important photovoltaic station.
The area near Lecce is characterized  by the small and medium industry , especially in the shoe-textile sector and in the food farming sector. Both are, however, prone to periodical market crisis.

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