ROME: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani flew to Italy on Monday at the
start of his first official visit to Europe, looking to sign
multi-billion dollar contracts to help to modernise Iran’s economy after
years of crippling financial sanctions.
Heading a 120-strong delegation of Iranian business leaders and ministers, Mr Rouhani will spend two days in Rome before flying to France.
While diplomacy will figure high on his agenda, trade ties are likely to dominate the headlines, with Iran announcing plans to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from Airbus, on the eve of President Rouhani’s departure.
Officials here said Italian companies were poised to sign deals worth up to $18.4 billion over the next two days, including in the energy and steel sectors.
The deals will give a boost to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who is struggling to revive Italy’s underperforming economy.
President Rouhani championed a deal last year under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for the end of US, EU and United Nations sanctions this month.
He is anxious to prove to Iranians that the accord, contested by many hardliners, was worth it and will help ease their economic hardships.
He also wants to promote Iran’s position as a major regional player and key to any solution to the long-running conflict in Syria.
The president will meet Prime Minister Renzi, Pope Francis and local business leaders.
He is set to meet French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Thursday.
“This is a very important visit,” an Iranian official said and added: “It’s time to turn the page and open the door to cooperation between our countries in different areas.”
However, the visiting leader is likely to hear condemnation of his country’s human rights record, with Iranian opponents planning a rally in Paris on Thursday.
Europe was Iran’s largest trading partner before the sanctions were imposed, with Italy and France seen as particularly close to Tehran. Both countries sent trade delegations to Iran last year in the wake of the nuclear accord laying the groundwork for tie-ups.
For more detail Mega deals in offing as Rouhani visits Europe
Heading a 120-strong delegation of Iranian business leaders and ministers, Mr Rouhani will spend two days in Rome before flying to France.
While diplomacy will figure high on his agenda, trade ties are likely to dominate the headlines, with Iran announcing plans to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from Airbus, on the eve of President Rouhani’s departure.
Officials here said Italian companies were poised to sign deals worth up to $18.4 billion over the next two days, including in the energy and steel sectors.
The deals will give a boost to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who is struggling to revive Italy’s underperforming economy.
President Rouhani championed a deal last year under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for the end of US, EU and United Nations sanctions this month.
He is anxious to prove to Iranians that the accord, contested by many hardliners, was worth it and will help ease their economic hardships.
He also wants to promote Iran’s position as a major regional player and key to any solution to the long-running conflict in Syria.
The president will meet Prime Minister Renzi, Pope Francis and local business leaders.
He is set to meet French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Thursday.
“This is a very important visit,” an Iranian official said and added: “It’s time to turn the page and open the door to cooperation between our countries in different areas.”
However, the visiting leader is likely to hear condemnation of his country’s human rights record, with Iranian opponents planning a rally in Paris on Thursday.
Europe was Iran’s largest trading partner before the sanctions were imposed, with Italy and France seen as particularly close to Tehran. Both countries sent trade delegations to Iran last year in the wake of the nuclear accord laying the groundwork for tie-ups.
For more detail Mega deals in offing as Rouhani visits Europe
nice post
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