(April 28th, 2016) An economic mission in support of the export of agriculture and food products from Valtellina to Canada was held last week in Toronto in which six businesses from Valtellina participated. It was organised by the Sondrio Chamber of Commerce (“Promozione” Task Force) in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO) and the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto. The initiative was carried out in conjunction with the institutional mission of the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Benedetto Della Vedova, on an official visit to Canada. The Valtellina delegation was led by the Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce, Marco Bonat and with the support of Marco Chiapparini from the the Agriculture and Food Quality District of Valtellina which has partrnered with the Chamber of Commerce in the coordination of business activity in Canada. The project is title “Valtellina in Toronto” has enabled companied to meet numerous potential buyers for the active Ontario agri-food sector. “The North American market is very strategic for our agri-food businesses and Canada still offers plenty of untapped potential, which will further increase with the establishment of CETA a free EU-Canada trade agreement. Bringing food from Valtellina food companies was the result of a stop on a tour for the internationalisation breakthrough in Sondrio in February, of which I am particularly pleased. It is important to continue to support these companies through our Consulate General in Toronto, the Italian Trade Agency, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario in order to maintain contact with companies and the importation procedsure in Canada” states Della Vedova.