The infrastructure projects launched across the northwest Iranian
province which is bordering Republic of Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkey included 181
ICT development plans totally amounting to US dollar 35.5 million.
Earlier this week, Hashemi visited the central province of
Yazd to commemorate the Government Week during which he inaugurated 73 ICT projects
to the extent of 5.5 million US dollars.
In West Azerbaijan Province, he launched
the provincial ICT Complex, and termed the project “an important step in the path to
making the province smart bearing the capacity for developing modern
communications and information technology services”.
At the opening ceremony of the Urmia Petrochemical
Development Plan, the minister described the project an outstanding example of
industrial development and innovation.
“Smart energy management and water purification are among the
most important achievements of this plan,” he added, “Women specialists had a
significant role in this project which is a sign of women's empowerment in
major industrial areas.”
Hashemi also met with representatives of the knowledge-based
companies and said the province's neighboring countries are an opportunity for its
presence in international markets and emphasized the need to remove financial
barriers and facilitate the investment process.
At the end of the meeting, four major agreements were signed,
including the launch of a data center in the Maku Free Zone, the establishment
of an ICT Park in the province's ICT complex, the compilation of a document for
the development of the digital economy, and cooperation with the Urmia
University.
At the meeting of the Provincial Administrative Council, the ICT
minister inaugurated 181 projects including the development of a fiber optic
network, improving high-speed internet coverage in villages and cities, the
launch of mobile phone stations, and the development of a telecommunications
transmission network.
Also 48 infrastructure projects were inaugurated, including
the petrochemical development plan, water supply and gas supply projects to
villages.
Speaking at the Provincial Administrative Council, Hashemi
said that Digital Iran scheme is a path to empowering the young generation and
added, “Teaching digital skills to students and elites of the province provides
the basis for their active participation in the digital economy.”
The ICT minister also started the groundbreaking ceremony for
construction of a data center in the Maku Free Zone and the participation of
the private sector in a 1,500-megawatt solar power plant, which are expected to
increase the province's capacity in the field of digital content and the export
of technological services.