Tehran, Feb 9, IRNA � Italy is interested to be one of the main trade partners of the Islamic Republic, says the Italian ambassador to Tehran.

'Iran and Italy maintain very good relations and this encourages Rome to seek to become as Tehran's main trade partner,' said Mauro Conciatori on Tuesday addressing the participants of Iran, Italy trade conference at Espinas Hotel.

Iran and Italy second trade conference attended by the Iranian ministers and their Italian counterparts kicked off Tuesday morning.

Referring to the event, Conciatori said that the participation of two Italian ministers shows the importance Rome attaches to expanding ties with Tehran.

'At present, relations between Iran and Italy are on a logical line and Italy has come to realize Iran's strong points,' he said.

Italy's ambassador also said that Iran has great potentials in the production sector and the Italian entrepreneurs could use the potential to expand cooperation with Tehran.

'Italy wants to become a regional economic hub with Iran playing the central role,' he said.

Accordingly, the ambassador said, we have plans to develop infrastructures and promote production in Iran especially in strategic spheres such as petroleum and natural gas.

Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhondi, Minister of Agricultural Jihad Mahmoud Hojjati, and Deputy Petroleum Minister for International Affairs Amir-Hossein Zamani-Nia along with Maurizio Martina, Italy's Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, and Graziano Del Rio, the European country's Minister of Infrastructure and Transport were among high-ranking officials present at the trade conference.

By IRNA