Speaking on the opening day of Elecomp 2017, Bagher Bahri said that rescheduling the country’s largest annual event in the ICT sector allows companies to carry out their business plan more effectively.
“Once a company decides to make an economic move and sign a deal, the [fiscal] year will be out,” he said.
Iran’s fiscal year ends in March. Within the new timetable, ICT companies will have eight months to reach their objectives after the end of the exhibition.
“Most companies in Iran cut big deals and complete big purchases in the second half of the year [September – March]. If an exhibition takes place in the first half, companies will have plenty of room to manage their business and operations,” Bahri said.
Elecomp 2017 is host to over 800 domestic and international companies from 20 countries in an area of 60,000 square meters.
Bahri, who is also vice-president of the ICT Guild Organization and CEO of Athena ICT Group, also sought to justify the lackluster participation of foreign firms at Elecomp 2017.
“We will be happy to see top-flight companies at Elecomp, but many big names are absent because the show is not particularly in line with their business plans,” he noted.
“Elecomp 2017 is the biggest event in the Middle East for startups and small-sized enterprises,” Bahri said in a statement. “Elecomp attracted excessively large crowds in its opening day. Such reception is unprecedented in most exhibitions anywhere in the world.”
This is the third consecutive Elecomp exhibition which is particularly dedicated to promoting startup companies. According to the organizers, 340 Iranian startups will feature in a special section, known as Elecom Stars, to present their products and services.