About Us
Facilitating growth and collaboration through a vibrant network of resources, partnerships, and opportunities.
Our History
Who We Are
Founded 60 years ago in Montréal by business leaders eager to increase trade activities with Italy, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada (ICCC) has developed expertise to provide business-consulting services for companies seeking a more international presence. We provide a complete range of services for companies interested in doing business or investing in Italy and Canada and we plan and execute services to meet the client’s specific requirements and strategic business objectives.
In Italy, we work with a network of influential business contacts we’ve developed over the years. In Canada we’ve partnered with government, academia and business to provide best business strategies for our clients.
We are a non-for-profit international business association. As such we organize activities designed to advance Canada-Italy business relations. Our activities provide a forum for industry and technology leaders to discuss latest market trends and business developments. ICCC activities are veritable Italian happenings conceived with style, quality and elegance to charm and fascinate our guests.
Our Mission
Our Specialization
We are best equipped to help enterprises integrate the Italian and European markets. Doing business in a developed economy like Italy, where culture and bureaucracy may at times seem foreign, requires local insight. We provide this insight.
In addition, we also provide business intelligence. We’ve advanced our industry know-how in the traditional sectors that have helped Quebec, Canada and Italy prosper, all the while developing expertise in the more technological sectors so vital to both Canada’s and Italy’s economies.
Whether it be ICT, life sciences, aeronautics, renewable energy and transportation or wine, food, leisure and travel, we’ve built strong ties with Canadian and Italian business and industry leaders to help our members seize new business opportunities.
Our Areas of Expertise
International Business Development
The Canadian and Italian economies are complimentary in many sectors. With the signature of the Canada-EU Comprehensive and Economic and Trade agreement (CETA), opportunities in export/import, commercial partnerships as well as innovation and technology-driven partnerships will increase.
We at the ICCC have developed strategic alliances with industry leaders and stakeholders in the following business and high-tech sectors. We have industry know-how and possess business intelligence in many business sectors, including:
Aerospace & Aeronautics
Agri-food
Consumer goods
Energy
Life Sciences & Health Technologies
Information & Communication Technologies
Clean Technology Renewable Energy Natural Resources
Tourism
Transportation & Logistics
Wines
Our Values
Why Italy?
Strategically positioned in the world’s richest market
We are best equipped to help enterprises integrate the Italian and European markets. Doing business in a developed economy like Italy, where culture and bureaucracy may at times seem foreign, requires local insight. We provide this insight.
In addition, we also provide business intelligence. We’ve advanced our industry know-how in the traditional sectors that have helped Quebec, Canada and Italy prosper, all the while developing expertise in the more technological sectors so vital to both Canada’s and Italy’s economies.
Whether it be ICT, life sciences, aeronautics, renewable energy and transportation or wine, food, leisure and travel, we’ve built strong ties with Canadian and Italian business and industry leaders to help our members seize new business opportunities.
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Carmine D'Argenio
Chair of the Board and President
Marie Anna Bacchi - Executive Vice President
Senior Director / VILLA MARIA
Damiano Dussin - Treasurer
Partner / PwC (Canada)
E. Paul Legault - Legal Secretary
Associate / Chair Italy Desk / MILLER THOMPSON
Vito Piazza - Vice President
Marc Anthony Serri, CPA, CPA (MI), CFA, EEE, CFF - Vice President Promotion
Managing Director / RBC ROYAL BANK MID-MARKET M&A
Board Members
Giovanni Barberio
Managing Partner / GBCPA Inc.
Gaspare Colletti
President / LES ALIMENTS CELL
Damiano Dussin
Treasurer / Partner / PwC (Canada)
Mina Farinacci
Managing Partner / Est Leader / Business Services and Outsourcing Practice / BDO
Liza Frulla
CEO / INSTITUT DU TOURISME ET DE L’HÔTELLERIE DU QUÉBEC (ITHQ)
Rosetta Iacono
Director / Growth and Commercial Relations / MONTREAL PORT AUTHORITY
Alexandre Lagarde
Vice-president / Foreign Investments / MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL
Angelo Noce
Partner / BLAKES
Patricia Occhiuto
President / LES IMPORTATIONS MINI ITALIA
Mark Galardo
Executive Vice President / Revenue and Network Planning / AIR CANADA
Lisa Giannone
President and Chief Operating Officer / BFL CANADA
Our Team
Francesco Biondi Morra di Belforte
Executive Director
biondimorra.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: (514) 844 4249 Ext: 2222
Ruggiera Sarcina
Director / Italy
sarcina.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: + 39 329 419 2421
Roxana Cirstea
Deputy Director General
cirstea.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: (514) 844 4249 Ext: 231
Inga Lavallée
Project Director
lavallee.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: (514) 844 4249 Ext: 228
Connie Russo
Membership and events coordinator
russo.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: (514) 844 4249 Ext: 229
Monika Biskup
Marketing Director
biskup.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: (514) 844 4249 Ext: 224
Mélyssande Anaïs Valentini
Director / Wine and Travel Italy
valentini.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: (514) 844 4249
Isabella Pezzi
Marketing Analyst
pezzi.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: +39 340 192 0064
Linda Mezzetta
Finance and Accounting
mezzetta.montreal@italchamber.qc.ca
T: (514) 844 4249 Ext: 230
