Iran's Ahmad Pourfallah wins Leonardo Prize

(AGI) Rome, Mar 7 - Ahmad Pourfallah is the first Iranian businessman to win the Leonardo International Prize, a sign of the new direction of Italy's relationship with Iran after the lifting of sanctions. "I am very happy and very proud, I will never forget this day", Mr Pourfallah told Agi immediately after being presented with the prize by Sergio Mattarella. Italy's president hosted the ceremony celebrating Italian Quality Day at the Quirinale, attended by Minister for Development Federica Guidi and industrial association Confindustria president Giorgio Squinzi. Mr Pourfallah is Chairman of the Iran-Italy Joint Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines and Managing Director of Secco Iran, a company that manufactures construction materials. Discussing the reasons for the award, President of the Leonardo Committee Luisa Todini stressed the fact that Iran is "a strategic country for Italy." Mr Pourfallah said the award was undoubtedly another sign of the new stage of relationships after the lifting of the embargo: "Until a few years ago, Italy was Iran's leading commercial partner and I hope things will soon return to the same level, with Italy as our leading partner. I hope many Iranian enetrepreneurs will be awarded this precious prize." The new course of relationships, Mr Pourfallah said, looks set to go well: "The laws for investing in our country are very avantgarde, and they are good laws. I should like to advise Italian businessmen to invest in Iran, not just in high-potential sectors, but also in other sectors such as tourism, in order to better the old records we set with Italy as our commerical partner. Tourism is of reciprocal interest. Iran is the fifth tourist attraction in the world, and this sector is very attractive to investors." Mr Pourfallah spoke positively about Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's forthcoming visit to Tehran: "Emma Bonino also visited Iran, when things weren't quite as open. We have always respected the Italian authorities. More than 1,000 Italian entrepreneurs have recently visited Iran, and even the Irananian authorities have never snubbed Italy. The fact that the prime minister is visiting Iran is a good thing." He said he hoped this would just the the first in a long list of visits: "Now that the embargo has been lifted, many Western presidents have been to Iran, and I hope your Head of State Sergio Mattarella will also visit Iran." There were still a few things that could be improved within the framework of excellent institutional and commercial relations, he added, because "economic relations have still not been completely resolved, and there has not been complete normalisation between Iran and the West. Swift banking codes have not yet been restored, which means we cannot have perfect banking relations and we cannot issue letters of credit." However, the media has played an important role, "and by playing their role they can help to develop relations between the two countries." (AGI). .