The Ambassador of Italy to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, visited Vancouver on October 13 and 14 to chair the annual meeting of the InterCom.It.Es. Canada and participate in meetings with representatives of the Sistema Italia network, CEOs of major industrial groups, and members of the Italian-Canadian community.
The InterCom.It.Es. Canada meeting is held annually in major Canadian cities on a rotating basis, at the initiative of the Embassy. It provides an opportunity for dialogue and coordination among the Committees of Italians Abroad (Com.It.Es.) across the country. This year’s meeting, held in Vancouver, brought together Ambassador Cattaneo; the Consuls General of Italy in Vancouver, Paolo Miraglia del Giudice, Toronto, Andrea Bertozzi, and Montreal, Enrico Pavone; Senator Francesca La Marca and Members of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Christian Di Sanzo and Andrea Di Giuseppe (participating remotely), elected in the Overseas Constituency – North and Central America Division; the Directors of the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto, the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) in Canada, and ENIT Canada; Rocco Di Trolio, member of the Executive Committee of the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE); and representatives of the Com.It.Es. of Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Also participating remotely was Plenipotentiary Minister Silvia Limoncini, Director General for Services to Citizens Abroad and Migration Policies at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, together with members of her Directorate General.
Ambassador Cattaneo highlighted the fundamental contribution of Italian-Canadians to Canada’s institutional, economic, social, and cultural fabric, emphasizing both the community’s dynamism and its strong ties to its roots. He also stressed the importance of the InterCom.It.Es. meeting as an opportunity to discuss the needs of Italian citizens abroad and strengthen cooperation and coordination among the Com.It.Es., Italy’s diplomatic and consular network, and the other components of the Sistema Italia network.
Director General Silvia Limoncini then outlined the Ministry’s commitment to making consular services increasingly efficient and accessible through new initiatives aimed at simplification, digitalization, and reducing bureaucratic procedures. She also highlighted the role of the consular network, including Honorary Consulates, and emphasized the importance of the upcoming Com.It.Es. elections as an opportunity for democratic participation by Italian citizens abroad, thanking diplomatic and consular offices for their efforts in voter outreach and election preparations. Director General Limoncini also recalled the initiatives launched by the Ministry to strengthen assistance to Italians abroad, including the establishment of the Operations Centre for Assistance to Italian Citizens Abroad, and to promote the so-called “Tourism of the Roots”.
Discussions continued on issues of particular interest to the Italian community in Canada, focusing on the functioning of the consular network and services for Italian citizens, the promotion of Italian language and culture, the activities of the Com.It.Es., and opportunities to strengthen Italy’s institutional presence in Western Canada.
In the afternoon, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Sistema Italia network, attended by representatives of the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto, ENIT, the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) in Canada, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada West. The meeting provided an opportunity to review ongoing activities and enhance synergies among the different components of the Sistema Italia network in the fields of trade and cultural promotion.
The Ambassador’s visit also included meetings with the CEOs of major industrial groups, members of the Italian-Canadian community, and Italian researchers and professionals, including representatives of the ARPICO Association.
