TEHRAN – A delegation of businessmen and producers from Tajikistan paid a visit to Iran’s House of Innovation and Technology (iHiT), expressing that they were highly impressed by Iranian knowledge-based products.

The delegation attended the Iran Expo 2024 exhibition, which kicked off in Tehran on Saturday, IRNA reported.

The products are of high quality and are compatible with Tajikistan's agricultural conditions.

More than 70 percent of the working population of Tajikistan works in the agricultural sector, but the worn-out tools and lack of modern planting and harvesting equipment have greatly hindered agricultural production in the country.

Tajikistan is a very promising market for Iranian agricultural tools and machinery.

The delegation looks to expand cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan to get more familiar with Iran's achievements and introduce Iran-made products and industrial capabilities.

Boosting links in knowledge-based sector

On January 9, the Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-based Economy, Rouhollah Dehqani-Firouzabadi,  said a range of good opportunities are available for fostering science and technology-based cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan, particularly founding joint consortia for knowledge-based products and services.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Rustam Emomali, the chairman of the Tajikistan National Assembly and mayor of Dushanbe.

The scientific and research centers of the two countries provide the grounds for the development of collaboration, IRNA quoted Dehqani-Firouzabadi as saying.

"We are ready to expand the cooperation in the form of a comprehensive program, relying on young, educated, and expert human resources,” he added.

Emamoli, leading a delegation, arrived in Iran on Monday and visited Iran’s House of Technology and Innovation (iHiT) today.

iHiT in Dushanbe

Firouzabadi and Emamoli signed a memorandum of understanding to found a joint innovation and technology house in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

Based on the memorandum of understanding, the two countries will define joint projects for expanding technological and research cooperation.

A joint committee has been formed to follow up on planning, coordinating, observing, and evaluating the progress of the joint activities; in case needed, the two sides will hold online meetings to offer suggestions based on the results of evaluations.

Enhanced scientific co-op

In January 2023, the Iranian deputy science minister and the president of Tajikistan’s Academy of Sciences held a meeting to discuss ways to boost relations in the field of science and research.

Zohidi Nizomiddin Shamsiddinzoda, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Islamic Republic of Iran, also attended the meeting, IRNA reported.

The two sides emphasized the need to develop scientific and technological cooperation by forming a joint committee in the near future.

Vahid Haddadi-Asl, the Iranian official, referred to common religion and language and geographical proximity as factors that can be effective in deepening the cooperation between the two countries, saying that the past relations between the two countries have been in line with cooperation and friendship.

The Exchange of academic staff members, cooperation of academic staff members in scientific projects, and participation in scientific seminars of the two countries should be strengthened, he highlighted.

The Tajik official, for his part, pointed out that Tajikistan is interested in cooperating with Iran, saying: “By exchanging the scientific achievements of the two countries, we can further help the development of the two countries.”

MT/MG