(AGI) Rome, Nov. 27 - A large Italian trade delegation willhead for Iran on Saturday. About 178 companies, 20 businessassociations and 12 banking groups for a total of 370participants will tour Tehran from Nov. 28 to 30. Thedelegation is led by Deputy Minister for Economic DevelopmentCarlo Calenda. The goal of the mission is to return trade withthe Islamic Republic to levels achieved before the sanctions,some seven billion euros. "Italy hopes to utilise historic Iranties with this trade mission," the Financial Times wrote onFriday. The newspaper underlined that "Italy is poised to senda large trade delegation to Iran at a time when heightenedanti-US rhetoric in the Islamic Republic is raising doubtsabout post-sanctions opportunities for US businesses -potentially opening doors in the 400bn dollar economy forTehran's historic European partners." The FT added: "Iran'suntapped market of 78m people represents a big opportunity forItaly at a time when it is struggling to boost exports." TheItalian trade mission will focus its efforts on sectors thatare expected to contribute most to the growth of Iran in thecoming years: the environment, energy and renewable energy,mechanics, medical equipment, building materials and automotiveindustries. The mission was sponsored by the Ministries ofEconomic Development and Foreign Affairs and InternationalCooperation, and was organised by Confindustria, ICE-Agenzia,ABI and Unioncamere. It will begin in Tehran on Nov. 29 with aforum in the presence of representatives of the maininstitutions of the two countries, which will be followed byin-depth sessions and sectoral business meetings betweenItalian firms and local counterparts. On Nov. 30, there will bevisits to the Syndicate of Iranian Construction Companies, theItalian Chamber of Commerce and the Iranian companies Khodroand Saipa. The mission follows a canceled visit by IranianPresident Hassan Rouhani to Italy (for security reasons relatedto the attacks in Paris). With Rouhani's victory in thepresidential elections in 2013, Iran began a phase of openingto the West. The new mood has led to an agreement betweenTehran and world powers on Iran's nuclear program - the JointComprehensive Plan of Action - which was signed on July 14. Thedeal is likely to reduce the political isolation of Tehran andmake the country more attractive for foreign direct investment,allowing Iran to modernise its industrial facilities. (AGI) . .