Amadou Keita Asked for Establishing an Science and Technology Park in His Country

At the beginning of this visit, Dr. Mohammad Jafar Sadigh Damghanizadeh, the Advisor to the Minister and the President of ICT Park welcomed Malian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and his accompanying delegation, presenting his 25 years of experience regarding the basic requirements for establishing and maintaining a science and technology park in any country. 

Dr. Sadigh Damghanizadeh continued his explanations by elaborating on the unique structure of science and technology parks in Iran that potentially provides for the scientific requirements and research procedures while also operating in accordance with its managing institution to enhance the development of Knowledge-based economy.

Referring to the models designed in Iranian science and technology parks, including ICT Park, the President of ICT Park remarked that designing this model can be highly practical and influential for those countries like Mali that are on the threshold of entering this field.

Besides, the Advisor to the Minister and the President of ICT Park introduced helping the establishment of new companies and providing for their development and growth as the main mission of ICT Park, and considered government support as the main factor for the survival of a fledgling industry in the regional and international markets.

He also introduced some of ICT Park's facilities, such as different grants, legal protections, and the synergic power of its associated companies. He explained that since different companies have different requirements at different levels, the employment of these facilities for achieving the intended objectives is one of ICT Park's main responsibilities. In this regard, ICT Park plays an important role in managing the development of these companies.

In the end, Dr. Sadigh Damghanizadeh provided Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Mali with the idea of establishing University Parks in Mali.

After watching a video clip introducing ICT Park, Dr. Abbas Ghanbari Baghestan provided a detailed report on the main axes of ICT Park's activities, its propulsive projects, including food security and IoT greenhouses, production of digital content as well as the potential areas in which ICT Park can develop international cooperation, clarifying ICT Parks services and capacities.  He also introduced ICT Park's active sites in three provinces, including Alborz, Mashhad, and Semnan.  

Then, Dr. Amadou Keita, Malian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research expressed his appreciation for the introductory presentations on ICT Park’s activities and the proposal for establishing University Parks, explaining that  Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Mali has the autonomous authority to issue a license for establishing such parks.

Referring to his trip to Mashhad and his visit to the technology companies located in that site, he explained that he has been deeply inspired by the established technology in Iran and its eccentric role in economic development.

Accordingly, he expressed his appreciation for his presence in the Mashhad Branch of Information and Communication Technology Park, asking ICT Park to transfer its experience in establishing University Parks to Mali.

At the end of this meeting, it was decided that within two weeks, ICT Park would send Mali a draft of the Memorandum of Understanding on the preliminary cooperation between the two parties for designing and establishing Mali's first  University science and technology park.

On the next part of the visit, Malian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and his accompanying delegation visited the companies based in ICT Park, including Noor Behine Gostar, Arg Telecom, the Smart IoT Greenhouse and ICT Park's wastewater treatment house.

It is worth mentioning that on July 7th and July 8th, 2022, Malian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research travelled to Mashhad in order to visit the ICT Park site located in this city, gaining detailed information on the technology companies based in this branch, their activities and their products. 

Besides Mr. Amadou Keita, Mali's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and his accompanying delegation that included Mr. Maiga Ahmadu Brazi, Mali's Chargé d'affaires in Iran's Embassy; Somno Lessin and Trevor Ibrahima; Dr. Mohammad Jafar Sadigh Damghanizadeh, the Advisor to the Minister and the President of ICT Park; Dr. Abbas Ghanbari Baghestan, Communication and International Affairs Advisor of ICT Park; Eng. Javad Yazdanpanah, ICT Park’s Deputy of Technology Development; Dr. Hafizi, ICT Park's Executive and Support Deputy; Eng. Mohammad Ali Jafari, ICT Park's Deputy of Market Development, and Mr. Rajaei, the representative of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were also present in this meeting.