Telecom 2024 kicked off in Tehran
VP says at least 20% of job creation should be attributed to IT sector
The 25th International Exhibition of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Digital Economy, known as Telecom 2024 opened in Tehran on Monday, featuring 148 domestic and foreign companies.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice President Mohammadreza Aref highlighted the advantages of the information technology sector in the country, particularly the presence of motivated and intelligent personnel with strong scientific capabilities.
Aref referred to certain challenges, noting that efforts to involve the private sector in the information technology domain were met with legal barriers in the third development plan.
“Our expectation from this exhibition is to take a step forward in the technology industry after showcasing domestic and foreign achievements and comparing the results of these challenges,” the VP said.
He noted that emerging high-tech and converging technologies primarily stem from the information technology sector, emphasizing the need to identify its significant role in employment, especially for graduates.
Aref anticipates that at least 20 percent of job creation should be attributed to the IT sector.
The vice president also highlighted the importance of assessing the contribution of the IT sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), stating that at least 10 percent of the GDP should derive from this area.
He criticized the underutilization of Iran’s capacities within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in the past years, underlining that many member countries are eager to collaborate and adopt Iranian technologies.
The VP pointed out that Iran’s presence in organizations such as EAEU, SCO, and BRICS offers a substantial market opportunity, urging the need to learn from past failures to capitalize on the ECO’s capacity.
Aref reiterated that the government’s strategy revolves around cooperation with regional countries, emphasizing the necessity of balancing domestic needs with regional and global interactions and collaborations.
He noted that Iran is benefiting from the latest technological advances thanks to domestic researchers and has established strong collaborations with international scientific entities and distinguished Iranian scholars abroad.
“The contributions of Iranian scientists abroad and their scientific services at home are significant,” Aref added.
He also stressed the importance of utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) while adhering to its principles, declaring that the government’s serious strategy involves exporting technical and engineering services, where telecommunication has traditionally played a prominent role.