Speaking at a gathering of university graduates who have studied abroad and returned to their country after finishing their studies, Sourena Sattari said: "Many successful start-up businesses have been founded by people such as yourselves, Iranians who have studied abroad and returned to their country after graduation. You turn innovative and good ideas into successful businesses . You turn innovation into wealth. Out of more than 100 companies active in stem cell research, 70 have been classified as "hi-tech" and "cutting-edge" businesses.
Referring to hi-tech businesses , the vice president for science and technology said the government must support these businesses , because if we don't, rivals from abroad will replace these Iranian companies. Sattari pointedly added: "If we don't support Digikala , Amazon will replace it . If we don't support Snap , Uber will replace it, and so on."
Elsewhere in his remarks, Sourena Sattari said: "The general public supports new hi-tech cutting-edge companies, because they are the future of Iran. People such as yourselves who have studied abroad and returned to Iran, are capable of turning innovation, science, and knowledge into wealth and jobs, boosting the economy.'
Turning to the future he said: "Over the next four or five years, new players will emerge in Iran's economy, and they will bring about real change in the economic and political structure of the country."
