Iran Aims to Showcase Brands in Global Stores, Highlights Importance of AI

TEHRAN (Iran News) Dehnavi announced the establishment of a permanent branding secretariat in Khorasan Razavi Province, signaling a move to decentralize efforts from the capital. He highlighted the province’s potential to become a hub for brand development and infrastructure, urging that the initiative extend beyond an annual event. “Khorasan Razavi can serve as a center for strengthening national brands, especially if we delegate this work to the private sector,” he said.

Dehnavi acknowledged Iran’s industrial progress but raised a critical question: “How many internationally acclaimed brands do we have, and how well-known are our brands regionally and globally?” He admitted that Iran’s performance in this area has been lackluster, stating, “To be fair, we have not done well and are far from optimal results.”

Shifting focus to exports, Dehnavi called for a strategic pivot toward securing a foothold in target markets. “Exporting isn’t just about selling abroad; it’s about reaching the end consumer. We should see Iranian brands in major global stores,” he said, pointing to the country’s innovative and modern food industry as a prime candidate for international expansion. He cited saffron as an example, insisting it should be marketed globally under Iranian brand names—a key pillar of the Trade Promotion Organization’s strategy.

The deputy minister of industry, mining, and trade urged Iranian companies to align their products with the preferences of target markets and invest in international identity-building and advertising. He described the nationalization of the branding conference as a step toward establishing an identity beyond Iran’s borders, expressing hope that future events would honor brands that succeed abroad.

Despite limited budgetary resources, Dehnavi pledged the organization’s support, promising to facilitate processes and assist Iranian firms. He concluded by addressing emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), noting their growing importance. “The world is undergoing fundamental changes. Many of our current methods may soon become outdated, requiring us to adopt new approaches,” he warned, urging stakeholders to prioritize AI and technological innovation.

Meanwhile addressing the event, the Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining, and Trade (EMT) said: “Pricing is a blight on branding, and the government, through pricing, eliminates the motivation for competition.” “Iran Aims”

Mohammad Sadegh Mofatteh stated at the National Brand Conference (a national event to introduce and honor the country’s top commercial brands): “A brand is a significant asset for economic enterprises, and sometimes a brand becomes representative of an entire country. For example, today, more than South Korea itself, we recognize the Samsung brand, and some of us may not even know that Samsung is a Korean brand.”

He added: “Therefore, a brand is intertwined with our national identity, and an Iranian brand represents the entirety of Iranian identity.”