Iranian companies explore opportunities at the 43rd GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, seeking international connections, investment, and the chance to showcase their innovations.
Exploring Global Opportunities: Iranian Businesses Participate in the 43rd GITEX Technology Week
According to IDEA, The 43rd GITEX Technology Week is scheduled to take place from the 24th to the 28th of Mehr (October 15-20, 2023) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Alongside companies and startups from various nations, some Iranian businesses are participating in this event.
What benefits can Iranian businesses gain from attending GITEX?
Mehrdad Malek-Mohammadi, the CEO of Tapin Company, offers insights into the advantages for Iranian businesses at GITEX. He states, “GITEX can serve as a space for businesses to become familiar with the global ecosystem, learn about the operations of startups in other countries, and witness successful and unsuccessful cases in their field of activity, which they can apply to their own experience.”
He further explains, “On the one hand, this event provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to get to know international investors and potentially attract capital by presenting their ideas and introducing their business.”
Several Iranian businesses have chosen to continue their operations in Dubai for various reasons. In response to whether these entities can create an Iranian business ecosystem there, Malek-Mohammadi points out, “The notion of an Iranian ecosystem in an international space, especially in a third-party country, is not very practical. When there’s an opportunity for a business to connect to a free market and utilize global capacities and facilities, there’s no longer a need for individuals to try and establish an Iranian ecosystem in such an environment.”
He emphasizes that a closed ecosystem, like what is observed in Iran, doesn’t lead to significant progress. The advantage of spaces like Dubai is that as a business, you can connect with global markets and make use of the infrastructure and capacities of all active companies and startups worldwide.
In conclusion, Malek-Mohammadi highlights that due to Dubai’s proximity to Iran and the support it has received, the presence of Iranian businesses at this event can be an excellent opportunity to connect them to the global market.
We Can Be a Global Market Service Provider
One of the biggest challenges for domestic businesses, especially in the field of innovation, is attracting capital. Can GITEX provide a new opportunity for this ecosystem? In response to this question, Mehrdad Malek-Mohammadi points out that one of the problems facing active businesses in Iran is the inability to earn in dollars. He states, ‘Exhibitions like GITEX provide a great opportunity for us to showcase our capabilities and infrastructure to other countries, transforming us into a service provider in this market.’
He believes that given the significantly low value of our currency in Iran, this can be an attractive proposition for foreign companies to make use of the skilled workforce available in the country at a reasonable price. On the other hand, when the domestic ecosystem connects to the global market, we can access the scalability expected of an international startup and achieve the position we envision for our ideas and businesses.”
Utilizing the Capacities of Iranian Expatriates
The CEO of Tapin, Mehrdad Malek-Mohammadi, discusses whether skilled individuals who have left the country in various ways can connect with the domestic Iranian ecosystem. He states, ‘What often happens after people leave the country is that they tend to disassociate from themselves as human resources in the operational job sector and their interaction with domestic businesses becomes more advisory in nature. However, in this context, there is the potential to transfer technologies and innovations occurring worldwide back into the country, facilitating the indigenization of this knowledge and its development domestically. On the other hand, these individuals can play another role, which is the marketing and introduction of domestic services and products to businesses outside the country.’
Malek-Mohammadi emphasizes that given Dubai’s proximity to Iran and the support provided, the presence of Iranian businesses at this event can be a great opportunity for connecting them to the global market.
[postx_template id=”4061″]
No Comment! Be the first one.