Several companies keen to invest in Italian steel - Urso

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 19 - Several multinational companies have shown interest in investing in the Italian steel industry, Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso said on Monday.
    "There is interest from a number of multinational companies in investing in the steel industry in Italy, as the recent agreements concerning the Piombino industrial site have also shown," said Urso.
    Last month the ministry signed a protocol with the Tuscany regional authorities, the municipality of Piombino, Metinvest Adria, Metinvest B.V. and Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche to re-launch the historic steelworks in the Tuscan port town.
    Urso also said Monday "is an important day" for the struggling ex Ilva steelworks in Taranto, which now looks almost certain to go into special administration after talks between the minority stakeholder, the state investment company Invitalia, and the majority private partner ArcelorMittal broke down.
    Later in the day members of the government are due to meet with union representatives and representatives of the ex Ilva supply chain "to provide all the necessary information", Urso said.
    "We believe that this is a real challenge for the Italian system," he continued.
    "It is only right that the government should give its opinion at the end of the meetings, after having also provided information on what it intends to do to the business associations and trade unions," he concluded. (ANSA).