First European House-Ambrosetti Italy-Iran Summit to open

(AGI) Rome, May 13 - The first edition of the Italy-Iran Summit organised by The European House-Ambrosetti will be held from May 16 to 17 at the Espinas Palace in Tehran. Building on the success of the first two editions of the Italy-South Africa Summit, this encounter aims to create an exclusive and influential community of business leaders and policy makers able to shape relations between the two countries. Iran is a leading country and point of access to a crucial and strategic region, with immense cultural and economic potential, the gateway to Europe for all neighbouring landlocked countries. Iran and Italy have had a long and fruitful economic and political relationship. The two countries recognise synergies that could be mutually beneficial, but their strategic, economic and trade relations have for some time been hampered by constraints. The summit, by invitation only and intended for the bosses of Italy and Iran's leading businesses, will focus on the major challenges for the development of business relations between the two countries. Discussions will revolve around a number of key issues including: relations between Iran, Europe, and Italy in the current geo-political and economic environment; the role of the banking and financial system; the future of energy and the Iranian and regional strategic scenario; infrastructure, mobility and regional retail corridors and shopping centres: areas of cooperation in Manufacturing 4.0 for small and medium-sized enterprises. "Following the Implementation Day of the Vienna agreement - reads a statement from the organisation - an historic window of opportunity has opened to strengthen bilateral engagement, accelerate growing momentum in the Iranian economy and create a strategic partnership that permanently increases the wealth and prosperity of the two countries". Despite the fact that "Iran's international isolation has reduced trade by 5.8 billion between 2011 and 2015 - the statement continues - the removal of sanctions could lead to an increase in Italian exports of 2 billion euros by 2020". The summit is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian embassy in Iran, the Iranian embassy in Italy, the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the Italy-Iran Chamber of Commerce and Industry.. .