The Italian Ambassador to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, delivered a keynote address at the opening of the 2026 Annual Conference of the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), held on September 15 in Moncton, New Brunswick.
For the first time, the conference welcomed a foreign ambassador as a guest of honour, reflecting Italy’s importance as a trade and investment partner for Canada. The event brought together regional economic development experts from across Canada, alongside national and international economic stakeholders, to discuss development strategies and examine emerging economic trends.
In his address to the EDAC plenary session, Ambassador Cattaneo emphasized that the current international context presents exceptional opportunities to strengthen strategic relations between Italy and Canada, with a view to establishing a privileged industrial and investment partnership. This ambition is underpinned by the complementary nature of the two countries’ economies and their shared need to diversify export markets, develop reliable and resilient supply chains and value chains, and pursue strategic investments with partners who share a common vision of society, respect for international law, and a commitment to rules-based multilateralism. The Ambassador identified several priority areas for bilateral cooperation, including energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, and defence.
During his visit to Moncton, Ambassador Cattaneo was accompanied by the Consul General of Italy in Montréal, Enrico Pavone, whose consular jurisdiction includes New Brunswick; Dr. Giovanni Carpenteri, Head of Foreign Investment at the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) in Toronto; and Dr. Francesco Calazzo, Italy’s Consular Correspondent in Moncton. The visit also featured a presentation on investment opportunities in Italy, organized by ICE Toronto for qualified local economic operators and representatives of New Brunswick’s business community.
Throughout the EDAC 2026 Conference, a dedicated exhibition space showcasing investment opportunities in Italy was also made available. The initiative was promoted by the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa and the Consulate General of Italy in Montréal and organized by ICE Toronto.
Ambassador Cattaneo’s programme in New Brunswick also included meetings with representatives of the provincial government, the Deans of the Université de Moncton and Mount Allison University, and the Mayors of Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, and Memramcook.
