Rome, 26-28 June 2018. In the framework of its project “Support to Iran’s SMEs through investment promotion and technology transfer in energy and environment”, funded by the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea, UNIDO ITPO Italy hosted an institutional and business delegation from Iran, composed by 4 representatives of relevant institutions and associations, as well as 3 company managers.

In particular, the mission was attended by representatives from the Department of Environment (DoE), the Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran (OIETAI), the Tehran Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Iran Recycling Industries.

On the first day, UNIDO ITPO Italy organized in its premises the Round Table “Investment Opportunities in Iranian Energy and Environment Sectors” opened with the welcome speeches by the Head of UNIDO ITPO Italy, Ms. Diana Battaggia, and the representative of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Abbas Naderi, followed by the remarks of Mr. Giovanni Brunelli, Director of International Affairs Division of the Italian Ministry of Environment Land and Sea.

The forum was divided into two sessions, the first one was a workshop dedicated to “Waste to Energy opportunities and challenges in Iran”, that allowed to discuss about the challenges and solutions related to the waste management issue in Iran: local institutions presented their functions and mandates, while the Italian firms illustrated their technologies developed on Waste-to-Energy field. In the afternoon, the second part of the Forum, was specifically dedicated to the investment opportunities in Iran, scouted by UNIDO ITPO Italy in the energy and environment sectors, aiming at strengthening working relationships and explore potential future collaborations. On this occasion, the managers of two Iran companies showed their proposals in the field.

During the following days, UNIDO ITPO Italy favored meetings between the Iranian representatives and relevant stakeholders as: the Italy-Iran Chamber of Commerce, the Italian company Ecoimpianti, which presented a wide range of system solutions, equipment and services able to solve problems related to the protection of resources, waste disposal and respect for the territory, and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), which illustrated its initiatives to sustain the internationalization of Italian companies.

The three days activities have been in line with the purpose of the project, namely to support the Iranian authorities and Government in enhancing the competitiveness of local industrial SMEs by identifying and promoting sustainable investment and technology transfer opportunities.