Speaking at the “Digital Maturity Assessment of
Industries and Businesses” panel during the Seventh Development Plan event, he
said the lack of such distinction has repeatedly led to slow decision-making,
prolonged project execution, and symbolic rather than transformational
initiatives.
Mohtashamipour noted that overlapping mandates
between agencies have reduced the effectiveness of proposed solutions. “The
private sector must act with an operational, results-oriented mindset, while
government institutions should focus on policymaking and regulation,” he
explained, adding that many companies still view digitalization as a branding
exercise rather than a genuine process transformation.
He highlighted infrastructure deficiencies,
outdated regulations, and foreign currency volatility as major obstacles.
Rising equipment costs, lengthy procurement delays, and complex banking
procedures have further hindered progress.
Addressing human capital challenges, he warned
that a shortage of professionals in AI, data analytics, and digital systems
engineering limits industrial readiness. He emphasized the need for training,
organizational reform, and expert retention to accompany structural upgrades
mandated by the Seventh Development Plan.
On data governance, Mohtashamipour said despite
the establishment of an inter-agency “Data Interoperability Taskforce,” no
tangible progress has been made in sharing key datasets among institutions.
He concluded that achieving digital maturity
requires urgent action in four areas:
- Strengthening data analytics expertise,
- Reforming recruitment and retention systems,
- Updating technological and organizational
structures, and
- Enabling genuine data interoperability between
agencies.
Failure to act, he warned, could push the country
toward a data and governance crisis, undermining informed decision-making and
halting progress toward a digitally mature economy.