Asmara — President Isaias Afwerki today received and held talks with a 10-member group of Italian investors from the Naples region that arrived here to explore investment prospects in Eritrea.

In the meeting at the Denden Hall, the two sides conducted discussion on the available investment prospects in the domain of agriculture and tourism and other topics.

The President noted the extensive investment opportunities in Eritrea and expressed appreciation to the group for coming here to personally witness the existing resources. Indicating that the Free Economic Zone has been opened and that some companies have already began activities, he stated that vigorous efforts are being made to speedily put in place the remaining infrastructure facilities, and thereby make it competitive with others. President Isaias further expressed Eritrea's readiness to work jointly and create conducive ground for Italian investors.

As regards micro-loan scheme, the President called for Italian financial institutions to extend micro-loan opportunities to Eritrean national associations so as to strengthen their activities. He also put forth a proposal for organizing a meeting in Italy next year on investment.

The investors on their part stated that they have visited Massawa, the Dahlak Islands and Keren, during which they observed activities to develop tourism and agriculture in general and fruits and vegetables production, as well as processing agricultural produce in particular. They further explained that they have witnessed that there exist extensive investment opportunities in Eritrea, and that they would encourage other Italian investors to visit the country.

Assuring that they would work jointly with Eritrea in the domain of micro-loan scheme, the investors expressed readiness to work together for the realization of President Isaias' proposal to organize a meeting on investment. Earlier, the Italian investors held discussion with different government officials.

The visitors arrived here in line with the invitation made by the President during his visit to Naples last June calling on them to personally witness the investment prospects in Eritrea.