Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly began a multi-day visit to Europe on Sunday, aiming to deepen industrial partnerships and attract investment as Ottawa pushes to strengthen its global economic footprint.
Joly’s April 19 to 24 trip includes stops in Germany and Norway, where she is expected to engage with senior government officials, industry leaders and global investors across key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, defence and clean energy.
Her visit comes as Canada looks to reinforce supply chains and expand trade relationships amid shifting global economic dynamics.
In Germany, Joly will attend HANNOVER MESSE 2026, the world’s largest industrial technology trade fair, where she is scheduled to participate in high-level discussions and promote Canadian innovation and manufacturing capabilities.
Officials said the minister will also hold meetings with German executives to advance cooperation in aerospace, electric vehicles, critical minerals and battery supply chains, with a focus on attracting investment and strengthening transatlantic trade ties.
The visit builds on a joint declaration signed earlier this year between Canada and Germany to deepen collaboration in the auto and battery sectors.
Following her stop in Germany, Joly will travel to Norway for talks with political and industry leaders aimed at expanding cooperation in defence, space, research and emerging technologies.
The Norway leg of the visit follows recent engagements between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, as both countries seek closer alignment on critical minerals, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
Trade data underscores the importance of the relationships. Bilateral trade between Canada and Germany exceeded $38 billion in 2025, while trade with Norway stood at $5.1 billion.
The trip reflects Canada’s broader strategy to position itself as a competitive destination for global investment while strengthening industrial resilience through partnerships with key European economies.