French construction giant Vinci said it had started preliminary discussion with senior government officials  in Iran over the construction of high-speed train stations in the country.

Hit by weak growth at home, Vinci, the largest construction and concessions company in Europe, is looking at opportunities to grow in the oil and gas and transport infrastructures in Iran, said its top official.

Its aviation subsidiary Vinci Airports, which manages the development and operations of 25 airports worldwide, had last week won a contract to design, build and operate new terminals at the country's two major airports - Mashhad and Isfahan.

"To counter a slump in French construction, Vinci has expanded into faster growing and more profitable concessions such as airports, notably abroad and in motorways as well as in energy engineering," remarked its CEO Xavier Huillard.

Besides Iran, Vinci was also looking to grow all its businesses in America, notably motorway concessions in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, and airport concessions in Peru.-Reuters