ICT minister pushes regional digital cooperation in meetings at Baku
Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Sattar Hashemi, held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 2025 World Telecommunication Development Conference in Baku, discussing expanded regional cooperation in digital infrastructure, technical knowledge exchange and implementation of existing agreements.
During talks with Isfandiyor Saadullo, head of Tajikistan’s Communications Service, Hashemi emphasized Iran’s readiness to share expertise in fiber-optic expansion, 5G rollout, and large-scale telecom project management, ISNA reported.
He welcomed Tajikistan’s request for academic collaboration and proposed joint educational and research programs in telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and information technology.
Noting that a comprehensive cooperation memorandum between Iran and Tajikistan was signed a year ago but has yet to enter the operational phase, Hashemi called for “swift action, a clear timeline, and a jointly developed implementation document” to activate agreed-upon projects.
In a separate meeting with Pakistan’s Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Hashemi described full implementation of the memorandum of understanding inked during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent visit to Islamabad as an “urgent necessity and shared priority.”
He stressed that Iran and Pakistan, as pivotal players in South and West Asia, must leverage their joint capacities to establish secure and sustainable communication corridors.
Hashemi highlighted Iran’s experience in developing its National Information Network, expanding fiber coverage, and ensuring network resilience during crises, and proposed enhanced technical knowledge exchange, cross-border optical connectivity, traffic exchange centers, and joint participation in new data transit routes.
He also advanced Iran’s push for “technology diplomacy” through talks with Kenya’s and Algeria’s communications ministers.
In discussions with Algeria’s Post and Telecommunications Minister, Sid Ali Zerouki, the two sides explored cooperation in e-government, digital economy, space industry, cybersecurity, and regional connectivity.
Meeting with William Kabogo Githau, Kenya’s representative, Hashemi cited Kenya’s strategic position in East Africa and its role in the African Telecommunications Union as “a significant opportunity for regional collaboration.”
He offered to share Iran’s advances in e-government integration, unified public service platforms, and nationwide digital business ecosystems through joint training programs and expert forums.
Throughout the engagements, Hashemi underscored the need for “systematic follow-up on agreements, rapid operationalization of memoranda, and leveraging shared regional capacities” to strengthen Iran’s role in continental digital partnerships.