Italy looks to the heart of Canada's mining industry: ANIMA Confindustria at the Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum
Saskatoon, April 15–16, 2026. The Italian delegation attended the 18th edition of North America's leading forum for the mining supply chain. Participation confirmed with a dedicated private pavilion at the 2027 edition. Exclusive interview with David Anderson, Director of the Saskatchewan Germany Office.
There is a territory at the heart of Canada that produces high-grade uranium, record quantities of potash, and hosts deposits of 27 of the 34 critical minerals identified at the federal level. It is called Saskatchewan, and it is becoming one of the most strategically significant arenas of the global energy and industrial transition. Against this backdrop, ANIMA Confindustria participated, on April 15 and 16, in the 18th edition of the Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum in Saskatoon — an event organized by the Saskatchewan Mining Association, the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, and the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association, firmly established as one of North America's premier meeting points between mining companies and qualified technology suppliers.
The exploratory mission returned a picture of concrete and significant opportunities for Italian manufacturing. The forum, structured around plenary sessions and an expansive exhibition area featuring approximately 380 booths, saw 12 mining companies active in the region present their operations in detail, outlining their current and projected technological needs: pumps, valves, piping, water treatment systems, measurement instrumentation, pressure vessels, excavation and lifting technologies, and materials and waste management solutions. A demand profile that maps almost entirely onto the range of industries represented by ANIMA. European presence was extremely limited — roughly five German companies — confirming that the space for suppliers from the continent remains largely open.
Italian presence at the 2027 edition
The most significant outcome of the mission is strategic in nature: it has been established that ANIMA Confindustria will participate in the next edition of the Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum, on April 14–15, 2027, with its own dedicated private pavilion, for which patronage will be sought from the Italian Embassy in Canada, the MAECI, and the ICE. This is a positioning opportunity that the Centro Studi Italia-Canada is following closely, in the conviction that the relationship between the Italian industrial system and Saskatchewan represents one of the most promising fronts for bilateral economic cooperation in the years ahead.
Interview with David Anderson, Director of the Saskatchewan Germany Office
On the sidelines of the forum, the Centro Studi Italia-Canada met with David Anderson, who from the Berlin headquarters of the Saskatchewan Germany Office — opened in 2023 and covering Italy as well — manages the province's commercial and investment relations with European partners. We asked him to describe what Saskatchewan has to offer the global market, and what it expects from Italy.
What is Saskatchewan ready to offer in terms of natural resources on the global market?
Saskatchewan is home to vast natural resources in the energy, mining, and forestry sectors. We are one of the only jurisdictions that produces crude oil, natural gas, uranium, biofuels, solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy. In northern Saskatchewan, we are home to forests larger than the size of Italy. Our uranium deposits are the largest high-grade deposits in the world, and we're among the top producers on the globe.
Critical minerals are another important industry for Saskatchewan, as we have 24 of the 34 identified critical minerals on the EU Critical Raw Materials list, including helium, lithium, graphite, copper, zinc, and cobalt. We're also the largest potash producers in the world, an essential ingredient for fertilizer and food security. In short, as many countries are prioritizing economic security, Saskatchewan is the safe and reliable partner to supply the world with the food, fuel, fertilizer and critical minerals it needs.
How involved are Indigenous communities in the mining sector?
Indigenous participation is essential to Saskatchewan's mining sector. Many Indigenous-owned businesses operate in the province's mining industry, and mining companies are major employers for Indigenous communities. The province is committed to economic reconciliation and creating opportunities for Indigenous people in the sector is a positive step towards that work.
How active is Saskatchewan in the EU market?
We take a proactive approach with outreach in Europe, prioritizing deeper commercial integration with the continent. The province's Berlin trade and investment office, which was opened in 2023, serves partners in Italy. The province also runs an office out of London. In addition, members of the Saskatchewan government frequently visit Europe. Last year, we had the Premier of Saskatchewan visit the UK and Germany to meet with investors and trade partners. Our local companies are also regular participants at trade shows like Agritechnica in Germany or the International Agricultural and Gardening Machinery Exhibition in Bologna. Italy is quickly becoming an important market for the province.
What are Saskatchewan's positive expectations for the EU market?
The EU is both a traditional and a future-oriented market. Saskatchewan farmers and miners have long supplied European customers with grains and minerals. For example, the province is the world's largest producer of potash which is essential for growing healthy crops, ensuring food security. The province is also the world's second largest producer of uranium, which fuels nuclear power plants all over Europe. Finally, we have many of the critical minerals needed for EVs and the green transition. With the geopolitical environment continuing to be unpredictable, Saskatchewan and Canada remain one of Europe's few democratic and stable partners, and we are here to strengthen this partnership.
In particular, what does Saskatchewan look for from Italy? What opportunities is Saskatchewan looking for from Italian companies?
Italy is one of Europe's most important trading partners for Saskatchewan. It is the single biggest buyer of Canadian durum wheat, most of it grown in our province. Saskatchewan also has longstanding relations with Leonardo, a major aerospace and defense company out of Italy.
But we also offer new opportunities for mining and agricultural equipment makers. As Italy looks to strengthen its security of supply on critical raw materials, Saskatchewan is a safe, stable and secure partner. Investment in mining is already ramping up, and climate change requires even more sophisticated agricultural machinery. Both areas are ideal for companies that want to expand in Canada and North America.
What advice do you have for Italian partners who are interested in Saskatchewan?
Interested Italian partners should contact the Saskatchewan Germany Office at germany@gov.sk.ca. We would be more than happy to provide you one-on-one, personalized support in connecting you with potential partners in Saskatchewan. To learn more about what the province has to offer, visit InvestSK.ca.
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