Minister Ng deepens trade relations with Greece and Italy

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

July 15, 2024 - Rome, Italy - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, has concluded her visit to Athens, Greece, and Rome, Italy, where she built on recent leader-level visits and reaffirmed the value of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

While in Greece, the Minister met with Nikos Papathanasis, Alternate Minister of Economy and Finance. She also met with members of the Canada-Greece Hellenic Parliamentary Friendship Group and representatives of the Greek business community. During these meetings, Minister Ng emphasized Canada’s position as a strategic, secure and trusted trade and investment partner of choice for Greece. She also highlighted the benefits of CETA, including its importance for economic security and prosperity.

In Italy, Minister Ng met with Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy. They discussed the growing trade and investment relationship between Canada and Italy, which is underpinned by CETA. They also exchanged views on how to best use the Canada-Italy Road Map for Enhanced Cooperation to further trade and investment, particularly in strategic sectors. Minister Ng also engaged both with key Italian investors and innovators who have links to Canada and with representatives of Canadian companies doing business in Italy to highlight the importance of the trade relationship for both countries.

Following this visit, Minister Ng will attend the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Trade in Calabria, Italy, where she will meet with international counterparts and advance Canada’s interests on important trade priorities.

Quotes

“I am encouraged by the optimistic discussions I have had here about the future of Canada’s trade relations with Greece and Italy. We have laid a strong foundation for deeper collaboration and economic integration. Canada looks forward to the full ratification and implementation of CETA, which has already proven its benefits for businesses and citizens alike.”

- Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development

Quick facts

  • Minister Ng’s visit builds on the visits of Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Canada in March 2024. These visits gave strategic focus to Canada’s bilateral relations with each country. In each case, the leaders endorsed closer cooperation between Canada and the two countries across the policy spectrum.

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Italy from June 13 to 15, 2024, to attend the G7 Summit in Apulia. On the margins of the summit, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Meloni established the Canada-Italy Road Map for Enhanced Cooperation. This map sets out ambitious, concrete plans to collaborate over the next 3 to 5 years in priority areas, including energy security and the shift to a sustainable energy future, climate change and biodiversity, trade and investment, sustainable economic growth, migration, security and defence, and research and innovation, including in artificial intelligence.

  • Canada’s bilateral trade with Greece is led by strong 2-way trade in services totalling a value of $2.2 billion in 2022.

  • Italy is Canada’s second-largest EU partner for merchandise trade after Germany and fourth-largest goods and services trading partner in the EU, with the value of bilateral goods and services trade surpassing $15 billion in 2023.

  • Canada opened a new consulate in Milan in October 2023 to strengthen its Trade Commissioner Service footprint in Italy’s primary industrial and technology region. This reflected the importance of the region to Canada’s commercial interests.

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Contacts

Huzaif Qaisar
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
343-575-8816
Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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