ROME. November 5. KAZINFORM /Yernur Akanbay/ A Kazakh-Italian business forum took place today in Rome within the official visit of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Italy. The forum ended with signing a number of documents amounting to USD 1 bln, Minister of Economy and Budget Planning of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov, who is among the delegation members, has said. "The President's visit started with an important business forum. We presented Kazakhstan's investment potential to our Italian colleagues who in turn expressed interest in cooperation with the Kazakh businessmen. Participation of 150 Italian and 50 Kazakhstani companies in the event set the best pattern of this. Bilateral documents to the amount of USD 1 bln were signed following the forum", Sultanov noted. According to him, in 2008 Italy ranked the third after China and Russia in commodity turnover with Kazakhstan - KZT 14 bln. "Of course, KZT 12 bln of this sum falls on export of energy resources and metals from Kazakhstan. However, both countries possess huge potential for trade relations development, and Italian companies are interested in it", the Minister resumed.