The Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa is responsible for coordinating economic promotion activities in Canada, with the aim of protecting Italian economic interests in the country, as well as supporting the growth of trade and investment flows between the two markets.
The Office handles the interests of Italian companies, including through support actions and interventions with Canadian authorities, maintains relations with Canadian entities and authorities in the economic-commercial sector and ensures a constant flow of information regarding the performance of the Canadian economy, economic policy choices, and the state of the market.
The Economic Office collaborates with the Office of the Scientific Attaché, implementing complementary activities aimed at promoting scientific and technological development, as well as supporting connections between universities, research, and industry.
The promotion strategy is implemented through a continuous coordination with the Italian entities operating in Canada, carried out also through periodic meetings chaired by the Ambassador, both in an extended format with all the entities from the Sistema Italia in the Country and in a format limited to those entities focused on economic-financial and commercial promotion, such as:
- The Office of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian Companies – with offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. In particular, ITA Office offers information and assistance to develop and consolidate relationships in the Canadian market, consultancy services for investors, sourcing of financing funds, contractual assistance, help with setting up offices and hiring local staff, commercial and confidential information on partners, dispute resolution support, and personalized marketing plans. Additionally, within the ITA Office in Toronto, there are a Foreign Investment Attraction Desk and a Procurement and Tender Observatory. ITA also encourages the promotion of Italian excellence by managing the participation of Italy in many important fairs and events in Canada.
- The Representative Office of Banca d’Italia, based in New York, operates as the Financial Attaché’s Office of the Embassy, and it analyzes the evolution of the economic and financial situation in Canada and manages contacts with monetary policy and banking regulation institutions, banks, and local financial institutions.
- The Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo (ENIT) based in Toronto, functions as the primary tool for implementing policy of promotion of tourism in Italy and support to the commercialization of Italian tourism products in Canada.
- The Italian Cultural Institutes in Toronto and Montreal.
- The Italian Chambers of Commerce: Camera di Commercio Italiana in Canada (ICCC) based in Montreal, Camera di Commercio Italiana dell’Ontario Canada (ICCO) based in Toronto and Camera di Commercio Italiana in Canada West (ICCCW) based in Vancouver. They promote and support Italian businesses in Canada, fostering the development of business contacts in the various Provinces.