Iran and Italy have agreed to expand cooperation in the transfer of technology, announced a senior industrial official.
Managing Director of Iran's Industry Property Office Mehdi Mirsalehi told reporters on Sunday that Iran has launched a joint project with Italy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to this end.
He said, "Two representatives from Italy's Ministry of Industry attended the joint Iran-UNIDO meetings."
Misrsalehi underlined that the project aims to support small- and medium-sized industries of Iran in the form of technology transfer from Italy to Iran.
He noted that the project can lead to boosting trade between the two countries' small- and medium-sized enterprises and cooperation in international markets.
In remarks in early November, Deputy Head of the Commercial Development Section at the Italian Embassy in Iran Tony Giardini said Italians are ready to invest in Iran's petrochemical industry.
Iranian and Italian oil and gas industries share firm bonds as is testified by the designing of two refineries in Italy for using Iranian crude oil and they are the customers of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), he added.
He said since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has been implemented, dozens of Italian economic activists have visited Iran in groups to study Iranian oil and gas industries and the big market available for it. He added that stronger cooperation is expected to come about between major Iranian and Italian companies.
Also referring to investments by Italian companies in Iranian petrochemical industries, the diplomat said certain Italian investors had immediately after the enforcement of the JCPOA thought that they can sell their products in Iran but gradually they realized that Iranian economy is thirsty for investment.
"Iranian petrochemical industry, as a vanguard in economic growth, is in pressing need of investment and development."
Giardini said in addition to investment in Iranian petrochemical industry, certain Italian companies are willing to invest in Iranian small- and medium-sized downstream oil and gas industries, expanding cooperation with the Iranian party in the field.
He added that Italy has the technology in the small- and medium-sized industries and Italian companies want to enter talks with Iranians for sales of equipment as well as investment in the industry.
Giardini said Italian companies are also capable of producing and installing industrial machinery and are willing to renovate certain Iranian oil industries and put industry machinery at the disposal of the Iranian party under special condition.
After Germany, Italy is Iran's second major trade partner and cooperation between the two countries in the petrochemical industry will not be a hard accessible goal, said the diplomat, adding that Italian companies are able to help Iran with machinery and joint production.
