Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi and the Minister of Information and Telecommunications of Serbia Boris Bratina in a meeting on Saturday in Tehran agreed on formation of a joint committee on implementation of their ministries’ memorandum of understanding.
“Cooperation in the fields of
artificial intelligence, the space industry, data transit, optical fiber, data
centers, and the digital economy are the most important areas of our partnership
to be fostered by the cooperation agreement’s implementation,” Hashemi said.
The meeting took place on the sidelines
of the Serbian minister’s visit to Tehran to represent the government of his
respective country in in the state funeral service of the former Supreme Leader
of Iran Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
The grand ayatollah was martyred
by the Israeli-US aggression on 28 February. His farewell and funeral
processions are being held in multiple cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq.
The Iranian and Serbian ICT
Ministers discussed ways to foster bilateral collaboration under the memorandum
of understanding signed in March 2025 during Hashemi’s visit to Belgrade.
Specialized Working Groups
Hashemi expressed appreciation over
the message of condolence and the presence of the Serbian delegation at the memorial
service of the martyred Leader of the Revolution.
Referring to his visit to Serbia
and the signing of the memorandum between the two countries, he emphasized establishing
a joint committee to implement the provisions of the agreement.
"We propose forming a joint
committee with representatives from both countries to handle policymaking,
approve annual programs, facilitate implementation of the memorandum, allocate
resources, and submit periodic reports to the ministers of both countries."
He added that implementation of
the memorandum can be pursued through three specialized working groups on
cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the digital economy, and
e-government.
"Creating a data corridor
between Iran and the Balkan region is one of the most important areas of
cooperation between the two countries and can expand the data transit route
between Asia, the Middle East, and Southeastern Europe."
The Iranian ICT Minister also
proposed exchange of experience in the space industry, data centers, and artificial
intelligence.
"Iran is prepared to share
its experience with Serbia in the production of indigenous hardware equipment,
the development of data centers, cloud infrastructure, and the implementation
of joint artificial intelligence projects."
He stressed that cooperation in
the field of artificial intelligence should go beyond the exchange of
experience and lead to the implementation of joint projects between the two
countries.
Referring to Iran's achievements
in the space industry and the application of space data, Hashemi also said, “This
field as one of the important capacities for bilateral cooperation between
Tehran and Belgrade.”
Hashemi urged his Serbian
counterpart to facilitate the participation of Iranian knowledge-based
companies in the specialized exhibition in Belgrade.
“Iran’s national optical fiber
development project, the video game industry, and the construction of small
power plants to supply energy for data centers are other areas of cooperation,”
he noted.
Serbia Welcomes ICT Ties
Bratina, Minister of Information
and Telecommunications of Serbia, welcomed expansion of ICT relation with Iran.
"Expanding cooperation with Iran
is one of Serbia's objectives. Belgrade is interested in broadening its
cooperation with Tehra especially in the digital sector and the space
industry."
According to the visiting Serbian
official, “The implementation of optical fiber, artificial intelligence, e-learning,
and the video game industry projects are among the most important areas of
cooperation between the two countries”.
“Establishment of joint working
groups can accelerate the development of cooperation in these fields,” he
added.