Italy, Iran 'to sign 5.4 bn minerals deal'

(ANSA) - Rome, January 25 - Italy and Iran are to sign multi-billion-euro agreements in the minerals sector during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Rome, a member of the delegation from Tehran told Iranian agency Tasnim on Monday.
    "Contracts worth $5.4 billion are ready for investment with Italy in the mineral sector," said Iranian Trade Minister Mehdi Karbasian, who also heads up state-owned holding company Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation (IMIDRO). The contracts "need to be perfected and signed" in the next few hours, he added. IMIDRO has over 50,000 employees and is active in steel, aluminium, copper, and cement production and in exploiting mineral deposits.