The Italian Embassy in Ottawa, in partnership with the Consulate General of Italy in Montreal, Italian Trade Agency - Canada (ICE) and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Montreal, held a roundtable discussion titled "Growth Strategies for Italy in Canada" in Quebec City on March 14, 2025.

The event was attended by leading Italian companies operating in Canada, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani in attendance.

Also present were representatives from Cdp, Sace, and Simest. In his opening remarks, the Italian Ambassador to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, noted that while the current economic climate presents challenges, it also creates an opportunity to further strengthen the already strong trade relations between Italy and Canada. He emphasized the commitment of Italian institutions to supporting this effort. Minister Tajani, addressing the participating companies, stressed the importance of boosting Italian exports—accounting for 40% of Italy's GDP—particularly to high-growth markets like Canada, in line with the new Export Strategy to be presented on 21 March at Villa Madama. He highlighted that the quality of Italian products is Italy's key asset in overcoming current trade challenges.

Matteo Zoppas, President of ICE, along with representatives from Ferrero, Fincantieri, Leonardo, Mapei, Labomar, Campari, Prysmian, and other participating companies, discussed the major challenges and opportunities presented by the current political and economic landscape. The event concluded with two in-depth sessions focused on the energy transition and innovation sectors, moderated by ICE and the Montreal Chamber of Commerce.