80 Percent of Iranian Knowledge-Based Firms’ Foreign Trade Made with Asian States

During the years 2020 to 2023, exports of knowledge-based companies increased from $296 million to $2505 million, with an average annual growth of over 100 percent. At the same time, imports of these companies increased from $1,633 million to $5,131 million, with an average annual growth of 50%.

The official figures also indicate that 80% of the Iran-made knowledge-based products target the Asian countries, and about 90 percent of knowledge-based companies' imports are from the Asian countries.

Around 36 percent of imports and 22 percent of exports are related to the United Arab Emirates to be re-exported to other destinations.

In relevant remarks in May, an Iranian official had announced that the volume of exports of knowledge-based products had reached 500 million dollars while the total volume of exports of knowledge-based companies stands at 2.5 billion dollars.

“There are over 10,100 active knowledge-based companies in Iran, many of which have a history of exports. These companies have produced over 17,000 knowledge-based products and employed nearly half a million specialists at various levels,” said Deputy Director for Development of Knowledge-Based Companies Department at the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy Touraj Amrayee.

“Nearly 600 companies in Iran's technology ecosystem have a history of foreign trade, and the volume of exports of knowledge-based products has reached half a billion dollars and the total volume of exports of knowledge-based companies has reached about 2.5 billion dollars,” he added.

“The total revenue of knowledge-based companies last year exceeded 18 billion dollars, and 109 knowledge-based companies are also listed on the Iranian Stock Exchange with a revenue of 7 billion dollars,” Amrayee said.

Amrayee had also announced in March that the knowledge-based firms will have a 7% share of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2028.

“The share of knowledge-based companies in Iran’s GDP will hit seven percent by 2028,” he said.

The official added that the current share of the knowledge-based companies in Iran’s GDP is nearly 2%, noting that therefore, it is necessary to increase sales and exports volumes of domestic knowledge-based products.

Amrayee stated that at present, the country exports $500 million worth of knowledge-based products overseas.

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