Iran. Guida pratica all'Islam fra tradizione e modernità

[Autom. eng. transl.] For several years now, Iran has engaged in a difficult process of reorganizing its political, social and economic system. The opening to the market of the ex-Soviet central-Asian republics and the contemporary establishment of a leadership group more attentive to the benefits deriving from international cooperation in the country, have also contributed to considerably accelerating the process of redefining the international image and enhancing it the geopolitical potential. That Iranian economy is still largely to be rebuilt, especially taking into account the choice that the country has made by opting for the differentiation of the sources of its national income. The desire to develop the manufacturing sector in particular, opens up new horizons for Italian SMEs. Those of textiles, automobiles, tourism and manufacturing represent the leading sectors of a system that no longer wants to depend exclusively on oil revenues and has decided to focus on renewal and modernization. In this sense, Tehran's desire to favor imports of components and intermediate goods over those of consumer products, offers Italian operators an additional asset. An expanding market and an excellent geographical location make Iran, not only an important outlet market, but also a privileged way to access the markets of the Persian Gulf and the Middle Asia. The low labor costs, the wide availability of energy resources at a low price, the good infrastructural endowment, further strengthen the palatability for western investors. However, it must always be remembered that Iran is going through a phase of severe financial hardship, due to past debt and the low price of crude oil on international markets. The rigid monetary policy and the complex procedures that regulate the licensing of foreign operators can also have a disincentive effect. Furthermore, although the government is trying to normalize its relations with the West, the Islamic republic continues to be a politically sensitive country and, potentially, subject to sudden turbulence.