– Alberta Relations

This map is a generalized illustration only and is not intended to be used for reference purposes. The representation of political boundaries does not necessarily reflect the position of the Government of Alberta on international issues of recognition, sovereignty or jurisdiction.

PROFILE DID YOU KNOW? TRADE AND INVESTMENT Capital:  A democratic replaced the  In 2013, Italy ranked as Alberta’s in Italy on , 1946, 4th largest export market in the Population: 61 million (2013 in response to a national (EU28). referendum. The second day of Language: Italian  From 2009 to 2013, Alberta’s June has been celebrated as the exports to Italy averaged CAD$ Government: Republic Festa della Repubblica, or Republic 154.7 million per year, consisting Day, ever since. Head of State: President Giorgio mainly of wheat, nickel and Napolitano (re-elected for a seven-year  Italy has been a key actor in woodpulp. term in April 2013) European economic and political  During the same period, Alberta’s integration, joining the Economic Head of Government: Prime Minister direct imports from Italy and Monetary Union in 1999. Matteo Renzi (since February 2014; next averaged CAD$328.2 million per election due in 2018) ECONOMY year. The top three imports were machinery, iron or steel Currency: Euro, CAD$1.00 = €0.65,  Italy has a diversified industrial products and wine. This figure €1.00 = CAD$1.53 (April 2014) economy, which is separated into a does not include goods sold in developed industrial north, GDP: US$2.05 trillion (2013 est.) Alberta that arrived via dominated by private companies, distribution hubs in other and a less-developed, welfare- GDP (PPP): US$2.01 trillion (2013 est.) provinces. dependent, agricultural south, with GDP per Capita (PPP): US$32,976 high unemployment.  The Italian Chamber of (2013 est.) Commerce of Canada-West  The Italian economy is propelled (ICCC), which aims at promoting GDP Growth Rate: -1.6% (2009-2013 mainly by the manufacture of high- and enhancing business, trade avg.) quality consumer goods produced and investment exchanges by small and medium-sized Inflation: 2.0% (2009-2013 avg.) between Italy and Western businesses, many of them family- Canada, has an office in Calgary. Unemployment: 12.2% (2013 est.) owned.

 Key Industry Sectors: tourism, Italy is the third largest economy in machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, the euro-zone, after Germany and food processing, textiles, motor France. vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

April 2014 | Input provided by Alberta Ministries of: Agriculture and Rural Development, Education, Energy, Innovation and Advanced Education, Jobs, Skills and Training, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development

Alberta's Merchandise Exports to Italy Alberta's Merchandise Exports to Italy 2004 -2013 2009 - 2013 (Total Average = CAD$154.7 Million) 250 Other 200 13% $133 150 Machinery Wheat 12% 41% 100

$CAD Millions Woodpulp 50 15% 0 Nickel 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 19%

AGRICULTURE  Italy’s natural gas consumption EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES  In 2013, Alberta agri-food exports to reached 2,645 billion cubic feet in  Alberta views Italy as a priority Italy were valued at CAD$58 million. 2012, and reported net imports of source for the transfer of technology, Wheat is by far Alberta’s largest 2,386 billion cubic feet to meet packaging/product ideas, investment export to Italy, with over CAD$52.5 demand. Italy is the third largest and business (export) linkages. million in sales in 2013. This accounts importer of natural gas in the world.  Areas of opportunity for Alberta for nearly 90% of Alberta’s total  The country is dependent on coal companies exist in the following exports to the country. These imports, with net imports of 25.437 areas: information and numbers are undervalued as one million short tons in 2011. communications technologies, company alone reports exports particularly wireless technologies and greater than those listed.  While Italy remains the only member software, health technologies,  Italy serves as the head office for the state of the G8 that does not produce electrical power products and Food and Agriculture Organization of nuclear power, it is estimated that services, including wind energy, and the making it a hub of 10% of its electricity comes from environmental technologies, including many multinational agriculture imported nuclear power. co-generation. projects.  Plans to recommence the country’s  The Italian aerospace, defence and  Italy is one of the top agricultural nuclear program were put on hold security industry is the 6th largest producers in the EU and supplies following the devastating March 2011 player in the world and the 4th most of its own agri-food needs. tsunami in Japan and subsequent largest in Europe. Italy is home to Italy’s major agri-food exports damage to the Fukushima nuclear the Finmeccanica Group which is include: fresh and processed fruits power plant. This was reiterated in a among the world’s top ten aerospace and vegetables, pasta, June 2011 referendum that rejected a and defence groups and 2nd in prepared/frozen foods, and luxury new plan to locally produce nuclear Europe. Finmeccanica and divisions food items such as wine and cheese. power. within this group have expressed ENERGY  Italy has developed the foundation for interest in learning about Alberta as a a competitive electricity market, place to do business.  In 2012, oil production in Italy although difficulties remain, reached 154,510 barrels per day COMMUNITY particularly in the retail market. (bbl/d) (compared to Alberta’s Energy security remains a major  There are over 88,000 Albertans of production of 2.53 million bbl/d). In th concern for Italy. Growth in electricity Italian descent. They form the 12 the same year, Italy consumed 1.352 generating capacity has been largely largest ethnic group in the province. million barrels per day of oil provided gas-fired, leading to increased by domestic production and imports  Between 2009 and 2013, 273 dependence on imported gas. from abroad. immigrants from Italy chose Alberta as their destination, 68 per cent  Difficulties remain in regards to  Italy is a net importer of oil, with were economic immigrants. During delays in construction of new liquid reported net imports of 1.198 million this period, 1,144 temporary foreign natural gas (LNG) facilities, upstream barrels per day in 2012. workers from Italy were issued oil and gas production, electricity permits to work in Alberta, and 91  transmission infrastructure and Italy has proven natural gas reserves students from Italy were issued renewable energy installations. of 2.2 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) as of permits to study in the province. 2013.  In October 2012, Italy announced Source: Citizenship and Immigration  Production has steadily decreased plans to consolidate energy policy Canada, RDM, Permanent and from a high of 728.8 billion cubic feet within the central government, which Temporary Resident Datasets, (Bcf) in 1994 to 303.89 Bcf in 2012. would require constitutional reform. Release 2013Q4. Alberta, comparatively, has 33 Tcf of This policy shift is largely due to  The Italian Cultural Society of proven conventional natural gas suspected corruption in local regional Edmonton, founded in 1979, reserves and produced 10.2 Bcf per authorities and the variable approval endeavours to protect the Italian day of gas in 2012. process for permits found at the local cultural heritage in Alberta. levels.  The National Congress of Italians in Canada (NCIC), Edmonton District, strives to disseminate the history of Italian immigration to Canada and  The U of A also has various RECENT VISITS promotes the integration of Italian- agreements with universities in Canadian culture into the life of Italy including the University of  January 2013: Honourable Cal Edmonton. Naples Federico II, the University Dallas, Minister of of Catania and the University International and  The Giovanni Caboto Cultural Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Intergovernmental Relations Society of Alberta, created in 1981, visited Rome, Italy on a  organizes Giovanni Caboto Day, a In 2008, the U of A signed a European mission to engage festival that celebrates Italian social MOU with The Catholic University key EU member state and cultural values the last Sunday of the Sacred Heart in Milan, governments on the of June. Italy. Both institutions have implementing measures for strong interests, institutional EDUCATION the Fuel Quality Directive capacity and project (FQD).  development experience in the Italian as a Second Language has  October 2012: Official visit of been taught in Alberta high schools developing world, particularly Latin America, where they intend Mr. Fabrizio Inserra, Consul since 1969. In 2010/2011, General of Italy in Vancouver. approximately 1200 students were to collaborate with the Pan enrolled in and American Health Organization  March 2010: Official visit of Culture programming, with 464 and the World Health His Excellency Andrea Meloni, students registered in Italian Organization Network. Ambassador of Italy to language courses at the senior high  Grant MacEwan University Canada. school level in Alberta. delivers two courses in Italy. The  September 2008: Official visit  In order to promote Italian in school, Anthropological Field Seminar is of Mr. Uberto Vanni an Italian Language Education held in the town of Tuoro sul D’Archirafi, Italy’s Consul Consortium has been formed Trasimeno, whereas “Leisure, General in Vancouver. consisting of Alberta Education, Work and Death in Ancient  October 2007: The school boards, universities, and Rome,” a senior-level course in Ambassador of Italy to cultural organizations. Classics, includes 21 days of Canada, Gabriele Sardo, class time in Rome.  The Italian government sponsors a visited Alberta.  The University of Calgary has visiting lecturer at the University of DIPLOMATIC Calgary. The current lecturer, Ms. operated a successful annual REPRESENTATION Adele Longo, has been offering her summer program in Perugia to language expertise and providing explore Italian culture and  His Excellency Gian Lorenzo feedback to assist Education in language. It also has an Coronado is the Ambassador completing the new senior high institutional agreement with the of Italy to Canada. University of Bologna which school levels of the Italian Language  includes research, joint Peter McGovern is the and Culture 12-Year program of Canadian Ambassador to Italy. studies. seminars, and staff and student exchanges and a business school  Mr. Fabrizio Inserra is Italy’s  In September 1998, the University of specific linkage with the Consul General in Vancouver, Alberta (U of A) signed an MOU with Università Commerciale Luigi with jurisdiction over Alberta. the Town of Cortona to create a U of Bocconi.  A Faculty of Arts School in the region Mr. Augusto Ambrosino is the of Tuscany, Italy. The school offers Honorary Consul of Italy in up to 60 Alberta students the Calgary. opportunity to earn university credit towards an arts degree while pursuing studies in a variety of disciplines, including archaeology and languages.

For more information, contact: Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations Phone: 780-427-6543 Fax: 780-427-0699 albertacanada.com international.alberta.ca