Iran’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Seyed Sattar Hashemi said that the private sector can overcome a significant section of the government’s challenges on the path to digital transformation.
“The private
sector is the key to the government’s digital transformation which was approved
by the Council of Heads of Branches and can settle part of the payment challenges
for digital transformation under Article 107 of the Seventh Development Plan,"
he said.
He was speaking
at a joint meeting with the head of the Plan and Budget Organization Seyed
Hamid Pourmohammadi and owners of a number of digital economy businesses where the
participants discussed the obstacles to the development of the digital economy
and exchanged views on the effective solutions.
Hashemi
termed transparency the main condition for solving of problems and said, "When
we speak of 8 percent growth in the digital economy, if we are not careful, its
realization will be reduced to a maximum of one-third."
"Despite
many challenges and ups and downs, the government has tried to take important
steps to open up the space for businesses in the digital economy," the
minister added.
He lauded the
head of the Plan and Budget Organization for supporting the ICT Ministry in the
field of innovation and said, “The successful development of communications
infrastructure will be the foundation and driving force of the country's
innovation and technology and can transform this field into tangible
opportunities for growth.”
Hashemi said
that foreign investment in the core of the digital economy was required which
has been declining in recent years.
The ICT
Minister also called for the support of the Central Bank of Iran and the
Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade and said, “After many years, the auction
of 5G frequency bands was held, but now we are waiting for the purchase of
equipment, which requires special attention of the authorities."
At the
beginning of the meeting, owners of the digital platforms raised their challenges
in attracting of investment, infrastructure, national digital security
strategy, specialized human resources, sanctions, economic inflation, and role of
government agencies into the market.
The head of
Plan and Budget Organization sorted their challenges under five categories and suggested
formation of teams to follow up on their issues which was agreed and working
groups were set up at the end of the meeting.