By Toronto, October 29, 2026
The Italy-Canada Business Forum, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and MAECI the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in collaboration with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada’s main federal business association, was held today in Toronto, at The Globe and Mail Centre, the event center of one of Canada’s foremost English-language news outlets.
The Italian delegation, comprising 65 companies and representatives from institutions within the “Sistema Italia” network (SACE, SIMEST, CDP – Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and Unioncamere-Assocamerestero), met with over 240 Canadian companies and 40 representatives from local government and business organizations, for a total of more than 350 delegates.
The Forum, at which the Italian delegation was led by the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Maria Tripodi, kicked off on the evening of October 28 with an introductory meeting reserved for Italian companies, organized by the ICE Office in Toronto and the Italian Embassy in Canada.
The meeting was dedicated to presenting the program and providing an in-depth analysis of trends in the Canadian market.
On the morning of 29 October, the institutional session opened with the greeting of the Ambassador of Italy to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, followed by speeches by Undersecretary Maria Tripodi and, representing Canada, Minister of Labour Hon. John Zerucelli.
The plenary session, dedicated to the theme “Complementary Economies, Shared Opportunities,” featured remarks by Karim Bardeesy, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry of Canada; Admiral Giacinto Ottaviani of the Ministry of Defense; Mauro Battocchi, Director General of MAECI; Lorenzo Galanti, Director General of ICE; and representatives from SACE, SIMEST, CDP, and Unioncamere-Assocamerestero.
Speaking on behalf of the Canadian organizers was Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, Senior Vice President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, together with Invest in Canada.
During the session there was also a greeting from Senator Francesca La Marca and the Hon. Andrea Di Giuseppe, deputy elected in the Foreign Constituency, North and Central America Division.
The Ambassador of Italy to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, highlighted the particularly promising moment for commercial and industrial collaboration between Italy and Canada: “Relations between Italy and Canada are experiencing extraordinary growth. The two economies are complementary and have enormous potential for growth.
At a historic juncture in which Canada—a G7 leader in energy and mineral resources—aims to strengthen its production system and strategic autonomy, Italy is ready to rise to the challenge and is presenting itself with a high-profile delegation, positioning itself as a strategic partner in sectors such as energy, critical minerals, defense, infrastructure, and advanced engineering.
The participation of leading Italian and Canadian companies and institutions confirms the strength of this collaboration and makes this Forum a new starting point for developing further opportunities.”
The Director General of the ICE Agency, Lorenzo Galanti, highlighted the results achieved and the Agency’s commitment to supporting Italian companies in the Canadian market: “Canada is an extremely important trading partner, in part due to the free trade agreement with the United States. Through our offices in Canada—in Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver—ICE Agency is supporting Italian companies in Canada across various sectors.
Italian exports to Canada, which reached a record high of 13.4 billion Canadian dollars in 2025—a 40% increase over the past three years—continued to grow in 2026, with a 10% increase in the first eight months of the year. Over the past year, we have carried out 25 promotional projects here, involving 330 Italian companies and accompanying over 250 Canadian trade professionals and buyers to major trade shows in Italy. In the consumer goods sector, we currently have five agreements for in-store promotional activities with Canadian retail chains: authentic products from more than 1,600 Italian companies are available on their shelves. These initiatives are complemented by new measures to foster opportunities in advanced engineering, energy, defense, critical minerals, and the startup sector. Canada is a growing market, and ICE Agency stands firmly alongside Italian companies to support them on this journey.”
Following the networking lunch, the proceedings continued with three parallel workshops dedicated to the Forum’s priority sectors: advanced manufacturing, automotive, machinery, robotics, industrial automation, artificial intelligence, and ICT; energy, mining, and infrastructure; and defense, aerospace, and cybersecurity.
The sessions offered Italian and Canadian companies the opportunity to discuss, share experiences gained in their respective countries and explore new perspectives for collaboration.
During the afternoon workshops, speakers included, among others, the Hon. David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, and Sara Wilshaw, Chief Trade Commissioner for Canada (the counterpart to the ICE Agency). Doug Guzman, CEO of the Defence Investment Agency, along with representatives from leading Canadian companies and associations, including CAE, Bombardier, and Kraken; Sterling Ridge for defense and infrastructure; APMA for automotive components; Rogers for telecommunications; Northern Graphite and First Phosphate for critical minerals; and the Canadian Nuclear Association.
On the Italian side, representatives of ENI, Assolombarda, Leonardo, Fincantieri, Telespazio, Telesat, Webuild, Ghella, Lucchini, Marposs, Valvitalia, and Bocconi University contributed to the work.
At the conclusion of the workshops, the companies took part in B2B meetings, organized through a microsite and a dedicated app—tools that allowed participants to access information on opportunities offered by the Canadian market, broken down by sector and geographic area and prepared by the ICE offices in Canada.
Each registered company was also able to complete its profile, indicating the types of partnerships of interest and requesting meetings with Canadian companies on the platform. Overall, about 218 requests for meetings were recorded for 50 Italian companies.
Also featured is the “Opportunitaly” area, staffed by dedicated personnel to provide information and support to companies interested in exploring business opportunities with Italy.
Lega Serie A also participated in the Forum alongside the ICE Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to promote the excellence of Made in Italy and help strengthen relations between the two countries through sport.
Representing Lega Serie A was Ambassador Leonardo Bonucci, who met with the Italian and Canadian authorities, underlining the value of sport as a tool for promoting Italy in the world and the values of culture, tradition, and innovation that characterize its identity.
ICE Agency – ITA:
The ICE Agency (previously known in Canada and the U.S. as ITA—Italian Trade Commission) is the Italian government agency that supports the international development of Italian companies and promotes foreign investment in Italy.
The ICE Agency operates through its headquarters in Rome and a global network of 69 offices and 18 satellite offices in 74 countries, in coordination with Italian embassies and consulates. In Canada, it has offices in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The Agency provides information, assistance, promotion, training, and cooperation services in the industrial, consumer goods, and services sectors. It also collaborates with Italian regions, chambers of commerce, and trade associations. Each year, ICE offices around the world carry out hundreds of promotional projects and provide customized services to thousands of Italian companies, while also assisting foreign firms interested in developing business relationships or investing in Italy.
The main services offered by ITA to promote exports and investment are:
- Market analysis, information, and sector-specific reports
- Business development and identification of business partners
- Organization of visits to international trade shows and events
- Support for Italian investments abroad and attraction of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)
To learn more about ICE Agenzia, visit www.ice.it.
MAECI – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) is the government agency responsible for Italy’s foreign policy, international relations, and the management of the diplomatic and consular network worldwide. MAECI promotes the country’s political, economic, cultural, and scientific interests abroad, while safeguarding the rights and well-being of Italian citizens worldwide. The Ministry coordinates diplomatic missions, embassies, and consulates; facilitates international cooperation and development programs; and supports economic diplomacy to strengthen Italy’s global presence.
The MAECI also plays a central role in multilateral organizations and international negotiations, ensuring Italy’s active contribution to global security, sustainable development, and humanitarian initiatives. For more information on the MAECI, visit: https://www.esteri.it/
OpportunItaly:
OpportunItaly is a business acceleration program sponsored by the ICE Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, designed to foster the development of commercial connections between foreign buyers, distributors, and entrepreneurs and Italian companies through digital business matching services, an advanced business matching platform, and content on strategic sectors of Made in Italy.
To learn more about OpportunItaly, visit opportunitaly.gov.it.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, as Canada’s largest business network, looks forward to continuing to help businesses operating in Canada make deeper connections with Italian partners, including through business-led missions, domestic events, and export services. The opportunity for stronger trade ties is something that business leaders welcome in both countries, ultimately leading to jobs, growth and investment that benefits both of our businesses, workers and their families.
