Tehran – Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Sattar Hashemi chaired a specialized session on sustainable digital infrastructure and accessibility at the Asia-Pacific Telecommunications Ministerial Conference (APT-MM) held in Japan.
The event, held in Tokyo from May 30th to 31st, attracted around 38 ministers from member countries. According to IRIB, it served as a platform for sharing expertise among member states of the ICT sector.
The ICT Minister explained his domestic infrastructure status and plans to expand modern technologies such as the fifth generation Internet (5G) and artificial intelligence (AI).
During the two-day event, Hashemi held meetings with counterparts from Japan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries.
Convened every five years, the APT Ministerial Conference provides Asia-Pacific Ministers with the best platform to address new policy challenges and opportunities, discuss shared visions, and promote regional and international collaboration.
The meeting led to the unanimous adoption of the Tokyo Statement, setting the direction of regional digital cooperation over the next five years.
The Tokyo Statement’s six strategic priorities include digital connectivity, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, trust and safety, digital inclusion and capacity building, sustainability, partnership and collaboration.
ICT Status
The combination of talent, data and innovation allows Iran to become a key player in the region’s AI value chain, driving meaningful cooperation 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 successfully developing a resilient fintech ecosystem that continues to flourish and innovate, Hashemmi noted.
“Our country’s academic and research capabilities have driven us to the forefront of AI advancement. 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, ranks fourth in the region in terms of the number of AI companies, and presents our dynamic and rapidly growing ecosystem,” the Iranian minister continued.
mt/mg