Italy has been the most important trade partner for Iran in Europe in the past (before sanctions era), a senior official at technical committee of Italy’s Confederation of Industrialists (Confindustria) said.
Licia Mattioli, member of Confindustria Technical Committee for Internationalization and Foreign Investors, made the remarks at Iran-Italy trade meeting beginning in Tehran on Wednesday morning.
According to its website, Confindustria is the main association representing manufacturing and service companies in Italy, with a voluntary membership of more than 150,000 companies of all sizes, employing a total of 5,434,352 people.
Iran is Italy’s first priority, said she, adding presence of 700 economic firms, 50 organizations, 20 banking institutes and 1,200 trade men in Tehran is an indication of deep interaction between Rome and Tehran.
Italy and Iran were enjoying 7.2 billion euros’ worth of trade exchange before sanctions imposed on Iran, said she, adding the figure dropped and reached 1.7 billion euros in sanctions era.
She stressed her country is willing to resume bilateral relations and even cross the 7.2 billion euros for economic relations (in post sanctions era started on January 16 as anti-Iran sanctions were lifted).
Referring to various important agreements that have been inked between the two countries since Tuesday, Mattioli said the two have entered conditions in which they will face difficulties but should continue the way.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, heading a 250-member economic and political delegation, arrived in Tehran early on Tuesday.
