Italy and Iran are slated to sign an agreement to build one of the world’s largest plastic producing outfits during the current visit by Italy’s minister of industries and commerce Enrico Letta to Tehran, reported the Iranian News Agency (IRNA).
Letto arrived Sunday in Tehran for expanding trade ties with the Islamic republic, said the agency, adding that the minister is heading a 120- strong delegation of Italian industrialists, businessmen and bankers.
Italy has become Iran's largest trading partner in recent years with their bilateral trade surpassing 2.4 billion dollars in the first 10 months of the year 2000, according to figures released by Italy Statistics Center.
The export of Iran's crude oil to Italy made up 88.2 percent of Italy’s total imports from the Islamic republic, said the agency.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that more than 300 members of the Italian parliament called last week on Prime Minister Giuliano Amato not to visit Iran later this month in protest over what they described as the country's poor human rights record.
The MPs from both the ruling coalition and opposition told a press conference that Amato should, at the very least, seize the opportunity to "strongly condemn the grave violations of human and civic rights in Iran."
Carlo Giovanardi, vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies, said Amato should take note of the "will of the parliament" and cancel his trip, according to the agency.
Opposition legislator Marco Taradash commented that "the Italian government has harmed Iranian reformers through its policy of unconditional openness."
Italy has bolstered ties with Tehran since Iranian President Mohammad Khatami visited Rome in March 1999.
Italian Interior Minister Enzo Bianco visited Tehran on January 7, where he signed an agreement on fighting terrorism, drug-trafficking, organized crime and illegal migration – Albawaba.com
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