DUSHANBE, September 14, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- On Monday September 13, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi received a high-ranking Italian delegation, led by Vice-Minister of Economic Development, Adolfo Urso.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Italy.

Mr. Zarifi noted that Tajik-Italian cooperation had certain achievements in the political sphere and bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries had gained ground, but trade between the two countries, however, left much to be desired.  According to him, there is considerable room for expansion of economic ties.

Zarifi stressed that Tajikistan had laid a proper legal foundation for attraction of foreign capital that met international requirements and provided privileges for operation of joint ventures here.

Mr. Urso, for his part, noted that his country was interested in expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation with Tajikistan and could assist Tajikistan in enhancing its agrarian sector, textile industry and hydropower engineering as well as  developing its natural resources.  Italian official offered to open representative mission of Italy in Tajikistan for coordination of trade and economic cooperation issues.

The sides also discussed issues related to the upcoming visit of President Emomali Rahmon to Italy.  Zarifi and Urso noted that it could be possible to hold a business forum of representatives of business communities of the two countries in Rome on sidelines of the visit.  

In the meantime, BBC Monitoring (BBC Mon via COMTEX) reported on September 13 that Italian delegation is in Tajikistan with the aim of finding profitable ways of expanding trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Italy.

During the visit, the delegation held meetings with the leadership of the Tajik Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Ministry of Energy and Industry, the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Tajik businessmen to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation in manufacturing sector, international trade and communications.

At the end of the meeting in the Tajik Ministry of Economic Development and Trade officials from the both sides signed an agreement to hold a consultative forum on bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Italy.