Why it matters:
As both nations aim to position themselves as emerging digital hubs in Asia, this partnership signals a growing regional alignment on tech development, cybersecurity, and connectivity infrastructure. Iran’s readiness to attract $20–25 billion in foreign investment into its ICT sector could reshape its digital economy and attract more global engagement, even amid geopolitical challenges.
What he's saying:
Sattar Hashemi, Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, emphasized Iran’s broad capabilities in communications and its willingness to attract foreign investment of up to $25 billion. He called for deeper collaboration in fields such as smart governance, cybersecurity, AI, fixed communications services, and space technology, and invited his Malaysian counterpart to visit Tehran.
What they're saying:
- Malaysian Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs, Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzil, shared insights into his country’s National Digital Program, launched in 2021, with a core focus on developing fiber-optic infrastructure and space-based communications technologies.
- He stated Malaysia had invested nearly $1 billion to connect 10 million users to high-speed internet and reported the country has reached 91% rural coverage and 82% 5G rollout.
- He also highlighted Malaysia's emergence as a regional datacenter hub and expressed readiness to cooperate with Iran in this area.
Go deeper:
Iran's participation in the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo underscores its active role in shaping regional digital transformation. Minister Hashemi chaired the high-level session on “Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Infrastructure,” one of the summit’s three main panels, focusing on optimizing network resources, eco-friendly ICT strategies, and resilience against climate change.
ahmad shirzadian
