TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology Sattar Hashemi and his Serbian Dejan Listic have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation in the Information and Communications Technology sector.
The Iranian delegation led by Hashemi officially visited Belgrade on February 25-27 at the invitation of Listic.
On Thursday, Hashemi also held a meeting with Serbian President Alexanderwycheck. During the meeting, the President announced his willingness to strengthen cooperation with Iran in all sectors, particularly in ICT.
Iran is an important and influential country in West Asia. Serbia is interested in expanding collaboration with Iran in a variety of sectors, including ICT, data transfer and artificial intelligence, Mehr’s news agency quotes Vucic as saying.
The formula praised Iran’s advances in the field of space communication, design, construction and initiation of satellites of sensing and communication.
The Serbian president has expressed interest in benefiting from this ability, referring to Iran’s capabilities and manufacturing facilities in establishing fiber optic factories in several countries.
According to Hashemi, Serbia is a technology hub within the Balkan region and an entrance to the European technology market.
Under the MOU, the two countries will collaborate and exchange technical expertise, experience and experts from the Science and Education Centres operating in the ICT sector.
Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, Ristic has “consensus has been reached to establish cooperation in the field of data transfer and maximize efforts to boost e-commerce,” Tanjug reported.
He noted that the two countries have developed their relationship for decades and the opportunity to support cooperation in the IT sector represents a special segment.
Ristic said the meeting with Hashemi had a particular focus on establishing and increasing cooperation in scientific and research activities and developing 5G networks.
He said they agreed to make economic cooperation even better.
“We have agreed to establish several collaborative teams as soon as next week to define mechanisms to enhance cooperation in the IT sector, postal traffic and e-commerce,” Ristic said.
Hashemi said signing the memorandum is another step in the development of cooperation.
“This document creates a platform and framework for co-investment, development and research,” he said.
Development of AI cooperation
The combination of talent, data and innovation allows Iran to become a key player in the local artificial intelligence (AI) value chain, fostering meaningful collaboration and development. Iran is committed to promoting regional cooperation and building a future in which AI promotes prosperity and unity, Hasemi said in February.
Emphasizing that Iran is a key stakeholder of the region’s digital landscape, Hasemi said Iran is a major player in AI in the Persian Gulf and is ready to begin cooperation with the regional state on the issue.
Officials made their remarks while working on the Iranian Corridor 2025 conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He said it is a country’s mobile phone operator and a thriving digital services platform such as Snapp. And, serving over 30 million users each, Digikala offers a wealth of multifaceted data. It’s an essential element of AI development, Press TV reports.
Despite facing economic sanctions, Iran has been successful in developing a resilient fintech ecosystem that continues to flourish and innovate, Hashemmi noted.
“Our country’s academic and research capabilities have pushed us to the forefront of AI advancements. In 2023, Iran ranked second in the region in terms of the number and quality of AI scientific papers, indicating its commitment to cutting-edge research and development,” he added.
“Iran holds second place in the AI developer region, highlighting the depth of its skilled workforce, taking fourth in the region in terms of the number of AI companies, and presenting our dynamic and rapidly growing ecosystem,” the Iranian minister continued.
He emphasized that Iranian human capital is available at competitive costs and is a strategic advantage that positions Iran as a valuable partner in the region’s AI initiatives.
By cultivating an environment that encourages collaboration and investment, Hashemi says the Persian Gulf region will transform into a powerhouse of artificial intelligence excellence, attracting global technological giants while strengthening internal partnerships for shared prosperity.
“By establishing an AI acceleration hub, promoting co-investment in free zones, and strengthening academic collaboration and elite exchange programs, we can unlock new opportunities for innovation and economic growth,” he said.
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