Tehran, Islamabad seek stronger IT ties, joint technology zone
Iran and Pakistan agreed to expand cooperation in information technology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, with Tehran proposing the creation of a joint technology zone that was "very well received" by Pakistani officials, Iran's deputy telecommunications minister said on Wednesday.
Mohammad Mohsen Sadr, who heads Iran's Information Technology Organization, met with Pakistan's Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja on the sidelines of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, he said in a post on X. "During this meeting, areas for expanding cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in IT, e-government, artificial intelligence, digital economy, cybersecurity and innovation ecosystem development were discussed," Sadr wrote. He added that he had proposed establishing a joint technology zone, which was met with strong interest from the Pakistani side.
"I believe strengthening technological cooperation among regional countries can pave the way for a more connected, smarter and more prosperous future for nations," Sadr said.
Sadr also held talks with Oman's deputy telecommunications minister on the sidelines of the Geneva conference, discussing cooperation in e-government, artificial intelligence, digital economy, communications infrastructure and broader technology interactions, he said.
"Iran and Oman have valuable capacities to deepen digital cooperation and create joint opportunities on the path toward the future of the digital economy," Sadr wrote.
Sadr also addressed a workshop on artificial intelligence and the government digital ecosystem held Tuesday at the headquarters of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva.
The workshop, which featured speakers from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the ITU's development sector and university academics, was "very well received" by participants, Sadr said.
The Global Dialogue on AI Governance, hosted by the ITU, brings together government officials, technology experts and industry representatives to discuss frameworks for regulating and managing the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies.