The Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi has emphasized the role of the country’s postal network in developing the digital economy, expanding smart services, and improving public and business access to services.
Hashemi made the remarks in a message on Friday to mark the World
Post Day observed on October 9.
The full text of the ICT Minister’s message follows:
“The postal sector around the world is undergoing a
fundamental transformation. The value of postal networks is no longer measured
solely by their geographical reach; rather, it increasingly lies in their
ability to connect people, businesses, data, services, and economic
opportunities.
This year’s World Post Day theme One Postal Network, Infinite
Possibilities clearly reflects this vision and highlights the role that postal
services can and should play in the digital economy ecosystem.
In Iran, too, the postal industry has moved beyond simply
transporting mail and parcels, drawing on its extensive national network and
the capabilities of both public and private-sector operators. The growth of
e-commerce, the expansion of smart, data-driven services, and the emergence of
new business models have created fresh opportunities for the industry to become
one of the key infrastructures connecting people and businesses to markets and
services.
In this process, emerging technologies—particularly
artificial intelligence, data capabilities, geospatial identity, communications
infrastructure, and digital services—have created opportunities to redefine
processes and develop new services. Leveraging these capabilities, alongside
effective cooperation among the National Post Company, postal operators, the
private sector, and knowledge-based companies, can pave the way for a smarter,
more integrated network that is better equipped to meet the country’s present
and future needs.
The implementation of the national GNAF initiative under President
Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration has received urgent attention because
accurate geospatial data is a fundamental element of the digital economy and
data-driven governance. Many public services, economic activities, and
management decisions become more accurate and efficient when data is linked to
a standardized, precise, and reliable address.
From this perspective, developing the National Geospatial
Addressing Infrastructure (GNAF)—which has made significant progress over the
past two years despite considerable challenges—is not merely a postal project.
It is part of the country’s data infrastructure and provides a foundation for
smarter service delivery, e-commerce development, and data-driven
decision-making.
Under the President Pezeshkian’s administration, the National
Post Company has taken effective steps to strengthen the role of addresses as a
key component of the country’s digital ecosystem by expanding and completing
this infrastructure and moving toward a new generation of address-based
services.
Nevertheless, the primary measure of success for this
transformation is the impact that people and businesses experience in their
daily lives and activities: services that are simpler, faster, more accurate,
and more accessible.
The future of the postal industry will become meaningful when
innovation and technology lead to an improved public experience, greater
productivity, expanded economic opportunities, and more equitable access to
services throughout the country.
Along this path, the continued provision of services and the
maintenance of the stability and resilience of Iran’s postal network, despite
war, threats, and sanctions, have demonstrated its capacity to overcome
difficult circumstances and respond to the country’s needs. These efforts,
combined with moves toward economic restructuring, increased productivity,
reduced dependencies, and greater self-sufficiency, have shown that Iran’s
national postal network has considerable potential to withstand challenging conditions.
Even during times of crisis, Iran’s postal service has
remained steadfast, standing alongside the people and the country—and will
continue to do so.
Achieving economic sustainability while developing modern
services and advancing digital transformation, following the financially
loss-making conditions of previous years, is a path that must be pursued with
determination. This will enable the National Post Company to rely on its
internal capabilities and play a more effective role in the country’s digital
economy and public service delivery.
I extend my congratulations on World Post Day to the large
and dedicated postal workforce across the country and to everyone working in
this industry. I hope that, by relying on our human capital, innovation,
technology, and the cooperation of all stakeholders in this ecosystem, we can
transform the potential of “one postal network” into **“infinite possibilities”
for the people, businesses, and the future of Iran’s digital economy.
Seyed Sattar Hashemi
Minister of Information and Communications Technology”