Iran’s trade balance with Italy has turned positive with Iran notching up a surplus of $400 million in its bilateral trade with the European country, Chairman of Iran-Italy Joint Chamber of Commerce, Ahmad Pourfallah, said on Sunday.
“Iran-Italy trade turnover is currently at $1.2 billion, of which $800 million pertains to Iran’s exports to Italy and $400 million to imports to Iran. This makes Italy the only European partner with which Iran has recorded a positive trade balance,” he was quoted by IRNA as saying.
Italians are good customers of Iran’s textile, shoes and parent industries, Pourfallah said, adding that with the drop in global oil prices, Iran should pay more attention to the tourism industry. He hoped that Iran can make use of Italy’s experience in tourism industry.
Referring to Iran’s commercial envoys sent to foreign countries, he said these envoys play a very significant role in expanding Iran’s trade with other countries.
Elsewhere in his remarks he referred to the so-called Milan Expo, which is scheduled to be held in June, and said Iran will make every effort to have a strong presence in the event.
Iran-Italy relations entered a new phase following the election of the moderate politician Hassan Rouhani as the Iranian president in on June 14, 2013.
Former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema was among the Italian dignitaries who traveled to Iran December last year and held talks with senior Iranian officials, academicians and journalists to explore ways to further consolidate and improve bilateral relations.
