Industry Spotlight: Automobiles 2016

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Industry Spotlight: Automobiles 2016

“The government will never be a good manager in industry, including the car industry. The sector should be completely privatized and competitive. The partnership [with foreign carmakers] will drive us ahead.” 

With these words, President Hassan Rouhani, in a nationally broadcast speech, invited foreign investment to participate in Iran’s auto industry. Following years of devastating sanctions on manufacturing, analysts believe Iran’s auto parts industry, the nation's second largest economic sector, is ripe for growth. 

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MYTH vs. FACT: Jews in Iran

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MYTH vs. FACT: Jews in Iran

MYTH: It is commonly believed that Iranians hate Jewish people, thanks to their government’s anti-Zionist statements. 

FACT:  The truth is more complicated. Iran boasts the largest community of Jews outside of Israel, and Jews in Iran enjoy various protections under the law, access to synagogues and schools, and political representation. And, while they do face discrimination from the state, Iranian Jews generally live comfortable, middle-class lives – and they have long been a part of the Iranian story.

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Industry Spotlight: Healthcare

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Industry Spotlight: Healthcare

Iran’s hospitals are undergoing rapid development.  In 2012, the Ministry of Health and Medical Evaluation initiated an evaluation system for hospitals in Iran to bolster the quality of services provided. And, in 2014, the Iranian government announced a new program to extend health insurance coverage to all Iranians, in the fashion of “Obamacare” in the United States.  Under the new Tarh-e Salaamat health plan, the state pays for 90% of patients’ medical bills in hospitals. Thus, while Iranian hospitals do face challenges in structural support and resources, there are significant opportunities for growth in the country’s medical sector.

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Industry Spotlight: Telecommunications

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Industry Spotlight: Telecommunications

Following last year’s implementation of the nuclear deal, companies around the world have taken a serious interest in the Iranian telecommunications industry.  The population of Iran, the second-largest in the Middle East, is mostly young – over 60% of Iranians are below the age of 30 – and, therefore, more likely to consume new technologies, cellular devices, and electronics. Thanks to deregulation, the introduction of 3G and 4G network services, and a robust start-up culture, Iran’s telecom industry offers a promising, and highly lucrative, new frontier for the global economy.   

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MYTH vs. FACT: The History and Culture of Iran

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MYTH vs. FACT: The History and Culture of Iran

MYTH:  Iran has contributed little in the way of culture or history

FACT:  Nothing could be farther from the truth. Iranians are heirs to some of the world’s largest and most extraordinary civilizations, and their cultural roots stretch all the way back to ancient history. After the expansion of Arab kingdoms in the medieval period, Iranians continued to make indelible contributions to humanity, with their effulgent poetry, religious traditions, and art. Today, Iranians are among the world’s best filmmakers, poets, and novelists.

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