Iran ready to beef up tech ties with India in key sectors
Iran ready to beef up tech ties with India in key sectors
TEHRAN – Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Sattar Hashemi, in a meeting with Indian Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, has voiced the country’s readiness for the expansion of scientific and technological ties with India in key sectors, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and digital economy.
The officials met on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, being conducted in person at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16 to 20, IRIB reported.
During the meeting, Hashemi highlighted capabilities of the two sides in emerging technologies. Referring to Iran’s strong scientific and human infrastructure, he said the country has taken great strides in advancing modern technologies.
The official went on to say that India is one of the global hubs for software development, a powerful country with high capacity in developing and exporting IT, cybersecurity, and AI. So, promoting technological ties between the two countries will lead to the formation of a digital powerhouse.
According to Hashemi, enhancing interactions between the private sectors is among the top priorities. “We are interested in developing operational cooperation in large language models (LLMs), the development of an AI joint platform in the agriculture sector, and the establishment of innovative centers to utilize AI in different fields,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of securing critical infrastructure in the years ahead and India’s capacity in training specialized human resources, Hashemi announced Iran’s readiness to share experiences in cyber threats, combating emerging malware, and strengthening the security of financial infrastructure.
The ICT minister also proposed developing a joint fund to support Iranian and Indian startups, holding joint technological events, and talent exchange programs, allocating special zones in the technology parks of the two countries, and facilitating the issuance of ‘tech visas’ for IT professionals as practical ways to foster cooperation.
For his part, Prasada underscored expanding collaboration between the two sides, saying that India is willing to expand ties with Iran via sharing expertise in AI and cybersecurity, holding workshops on training specialized human resources, and kicking off operational cooperation in collaborative technological projects.
“Establishing joint innovation centers and exchanging experts would help accelerate technological development in both countries, strengthen digital infrastructure, and improve data security,” Prasada noted.
The India – AI Impact Summit in 2026 aims to shape a future-oriented agenda for impactful AI cooperation and mark a strategic shift from “Action” to “Impact”.
The summit aims to ensure that AI serves as a catalyst for inclusive human development, environmental sustainability, and equitable progress worldwide, bridging the Global AI Divide through concrete multilateral action and enabling AI to strengthen communities, protect the planet, and accelerate progress toward a just and sustainable future for all humanity.
The Summit is structured around seven core themes, including ‘Human Capital, Inclusion for Social Empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience, Innovation, and Efficiency, Science, Democratizing AI Resources, and AI for Economic Growth and Social Good’.
By hosting events at the Summit, organizations can play a meaningful role in shaping its deliberations and driving outcomes that advance impactful and globally relevant discourse on AI.
Iran committed to fostering regional AI cooperation
The combination of talent, data, and innovation makes Iran a key player in the regional AI value chain, capable of driving meaningful cooperation and development. Iran is committed to fostering regional cooperation and building a future where AI drives prosperity and unity, Hashemi said in February 2025.
Emphasizing that Iran is a major stakeholder in the regional digital landscape, Hashemi said that Iran is a major player in AI in the Persian Gulf and that the country is ready to start cooperation with regional states on this matter.
The official made the remarks while addressing the Iran Corridor 2025 conference held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
He stated that the country’s mobile phone operators, as well as its thriving digital service platforms such as Snapp! And Digikala, each serving more than 30 million users, provides an abundance of multifaceted data — an essential ingredient for AI development, Press TV reported.
Despite facing economic sanctions, Iran has successfully developed a resilient fintech ecosystem that continues to thrive and innovate, Hashemi noted.
“Our country’s academic and research capabilities have propelled us to the forefront of AI advancements. In 2023, Iran ranked second in the region in terms of the number and quality of scientific papers in AI, demonstrating our commitment to cutting-edge research and development,” he added.
“Iran holds the second position in the region for AI developers, highlighting the depth of our skilled workforce, and stands fourth in the region in terms of the number of AI firms, showcasing our dynamic and rapidly growing ecosystem,” the Iranian minister continued.
MT/MG
source: tehrantimes.com