The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today concluded his second trade mission to Italy, promoting a deeper bilateral trade and investment relationship between the two countries...

Minister Fast met with government representatives...to discuss the growing Canada-Italy bilateral relationship, strengthened by the recently concluded Canada-EU trade agreement.

Minister Fast ...also met with more than 30 business leaders from the Italian business association, Confindustria, to highlight how the Canada-EU trade agreement will open new markets for producers, creating new opportunities for exporters and investors in Canada and the EU, including Italy.

Minister Fast also met with Claudio De Vincenti, Vice-Minister of Economic Development responsible for energy, and representatives of the Italian energy sector. Canada has the potential to be an important partner in ensuring long-term energy security for Italy. Canadian energy exports to Italy increased by 1,400 percent in 2014, reaching $1.6 billion for the first 11 months of the year, compared to $106 million in 2013...

This has been excerpted from the 21 January 2015 news release by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.