The merger commission of the Seventh Development Plan has tasked the Ministry of Economy with the collaboration of the Ministry of Communications to take action in establishing a specialized technology stock exchange. Furthermore, the Ministry of Communications, in conjunction with the complete involvement of the private sector, is to ‘popularize’ postal distribution by creating a national platform for the distribution of goods and products.
According to IDEA, The Seventh Development Plan has mandated the Ministry of Economy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, to establish a specialized stock exchange for companies operating in the fields of digital economy and knowledge-based industries. Furthermore, special stock indices and new financial instruments must be defined for these companies, and their intangible assets should also be officially recognized.
To facilitate the acceptance of these intangible assets by banks, financial institutions, investment funds, and the stock exchange organization, the Ministry of Economy and Communications is required to prepare the executive regulations for accepting these assets.
National Network for Goods and Product Distribution Platform
According to the decision of the Seventh Development Plan merger commission, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is authorized to create a national platform for the distribution of goods and products (including industrial, agricultural, and e-commerce) by providing the necessary infrastructure for enhancing the security of postal services and conducting postal operations and processes (procurements) in cooperation with postal operators and other stakeholders in the field of transportation and distribution of goods, provided that it does not engage in commercial activities except for missions and duties authorized by law and operates fully as a private and public entity.
Last July, Issa Zarepour, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, stated that the Post Company incurs an annual loss of 150 to 200 billion Tomans. It is believed that the creation of this platform will lead to the downsizing of this company and the outsourcing of its activities.
In this regard, the national post identifier issuance portal based on the sender and receiver postal code and delivery information should be created on this platform.
Establishment of the International Communications Company
In another section of the Seventh Plan, the Ministry of Communications is allowed to establish an International Communications Company with the participation and investment of the private sector. However, no details have been provided regarding the scope of this company’s responsibilities.
Upgrading the National Information Network Project
The National Virtual Space Center in this resolution is obligated to, within three months of the implementation of the Seventh Plan Law, review, complete, and update the comprehensive plan and architecture of the National Information Network.
Duties Encompassing the Formulation of Several Programs
In this program, the formulation of several programs has been entrusted to various government entities. One of these documents is the ‘National Artificial Intelligence Development Program,’ which the Ministry of Communications must develop in collaboration with the National Cyberspace Center.
Furthermore, the ‘Policies and Regulations for Regulating Virtual Space and the Digital Economy’ must be approved by the High Council of Cyberspace within three months of the implementation of this law. In the Seventh Plan, it is stated: ‘Blocking and filtering of these platforms is the responsibility of the National Cyberspace Center, subject solely to compliance with these regulations and responsibilities arising from laws.’
Another document is the ‘Digital Economy System’ document, which the Ministry of Communications must prepare in collaboration with the relevant agencies of the Digital Economy Taskforce and submit for approval to the High Council of Cyberspace.
In addition, the Ministry of Communications must prepare the ‘Policies and Requirements for the Protection and Support of Personal Data’ and submit them for approval by the Parliament.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Communications, in compliance with the Law on Data and National Information Management, must provide digital economy businesses with access to the required data and information through the National Information Exchange Center while safeguarding personal data.
Multiple Responsibilities for the Ministry of Communications in Cybersecurity
The Seventh Plan assigns several security responsibilities to the Ministry of Communications. One of these responsibilities is to provide ‘cybersecurity services, assessment, and annual ranking of executive entities in accordance with standards and regulations approved by the Permanent Committee for Non-Operational Defense,’ which must be carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Intelligence, the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC, and the Non-Operational Defense Organization. Additionally, the Ministry of Communications can utilize companies with licenses or security auditing certificates from the Information Technology Organization.
The Ministry of ICT is also required to, in collaboration with the Ministry of Intelligence and the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC, establish security operators to meet the needs of governmental and non-governmental sectors. Moreover, the Parliament has tasked this ministry, in collaboration with other executive entities, deputy organizations, centers, or agencies, to establish the ‘Innovation, Digitization, and Security’ entity.
Throughout the years of implementing the Seventh Development Plan and in order to avoid duplication and government cost savings, any new nationwide and cross-sectoral system must obtain approval from the Ministry of Communications.
Online Inquiry of Property Records
In another section of this program, the Ministry of Communications is obliged to, in collaboration with institutions possessing information about movable properties, including Faraja, the Statistical Center, the Information Technology Organization of the Judiciary, and the National Organization for Registration of Deeds and Properties, provide the capability for online inquiry of information and records related to transactional properties as well as the competence and eligibility of transactional individuals, subject to the consent of the parties involved in the transaction, for private platforms
No Comment! Be the first one.