The Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi has said the ICT Ministry is ready to facilitate connecting ran’s digital economy companies with the neighboring Iraqi market.
He made the statement at a meeting on Tuesday to introduce the
capabilities of the Iranian companies in the field of digital economy attended
by local stakeholders and the visiting Iraqi Minister of Communications Mustafa
Sanad.
The event themed The One Thousand and Second Night: A Gateway for
Iranian Technology to the Iraqi Market was held on the sidelines of the Iraqi minister’s
visit to Tehran for bilateral discussions as well as to take part at the
ELECOMP Exhibition which opened on Monday.
A number of Iranian companies active in information and
communications technology (ICT), the digital economy and the provision of
technological solutions presented their products, services and capabilities
with the aim of expanding cooperation and entering the Iraqi market.
ICT Ministry: Bridge between Iranian Firms, Iraqi Market
The Iranian ICT Minister referred to the deep and strategic
ties between Iran and Iraq and stressed making use of existing capacities to
expand technological and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Referring to the presence of Iranian companies at the
meeting, he said that introducing new capacities and the capabilities of
companies active in the digital economy could pave the way for new cooperation
between the private sectors of the two countries and for a more effective presence
of Iranian companies in the Iraqi market.
Hashemi added that the ICT Ministry could act as a
facilitator and a bridge between Iranian companies and their Iraqi
counterparts, paving the way for the expansion of Iranian companies’ presence
in the Iraqi market by enabling direct engagement.
He stressed the need to turn the existing capacities of the
two countries into practical and economic cooperation, saying that Iranian
private-sector, knowledge-based and technology companies possess significant
capabilities to provide the products and solutions needed by the Iraqi market.
Promising Future of Iraq’s Communications Market
Mustafa Jabbar Sanad, Iraq’s Minister of Communications, also
expressed hope for the development of historic and extensive cooperation
between the two countries in communications and information technology,
outlining the capacities available in the Iraqi market.
He referred to the state of Iraq’s communications
infrastructure, and said “At present,
internet traffic enters Iraq through 11 gateways, while the development of
communications infrastructure and digital services is among the key needs of
the Iraqi market.”
Highlighting differences between the two countries in users’
patterns of technology and digital-service consumption, the Iraqi minister added
that a significant share of the applications used by Iraqi users consists of
foreign products and services, whereas Iran has developed numerous domestic
alternatives in this field.
Sanad described this difference as a significant area for the
exchange of experience and cooperation between the two countries and emphasized
the use of Iranian companies’ capabilities in developing technological services
and solutions in Iraq.
“Iraq’s substantial need for data, hardware equipment and
software presented an important opportunity for capable technology companies
from different countries, particularly Iran, to enter the market.”
Iranian Companies Present their Capabilities
The Iranian companies participating in the meeting presented
their capabilities and introduced their products and services, focusing on the
needs of the Iraqi market.
The firms’ representatives outlined the areas of activity and
the technological and commercial capacities of their organizations, introduced
products and solutions that could be offered in the Iraqi market, and examined
areas for cooperation with their Iraqi counterparts.
The presentations were aimed at creating direct familiarity
between Iranian companies and Iraqi counterparts, identifying the needs of the
Iraqi market and laying the groundwork for the expansion of commercial and
technological cooperation.
A significant number of the capabilities, products and
solutions presented by Iranian companies were welcomed by Iraq’s Minister of
Communications, and their potential for entering the Iraqi market received the
attention of the Iraqi side.
Iranian Companies Invited to Visit Iraq
As the engagement continued, and in view of the capabilities
presented and the Iraqi minister of communications’ favorable response to a
significant number of the Iranian companies’ products and solutions, the
companies were invited to visit Iraq and directly introduce their products and
services.
The invitation could pave the way for continued negotiations
between Iranian companies and their Iraqi counterparts and for the exploration
of cooperation opportunities in the Iraqi market. It could also facilitate
specialized meetings, business negotiations and the establishment of direct
cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.