Iranian entrepreneurs are ensnared by government red tape far more than their counterparts in the neighboring countries, says Ali Naqib, the head of the Association of Tehran Province Entrepreneurs, adding that their migration to the neighboring countries is a wakeup call for the economy.
“People get to know each other’s concerns and problems much better when they are a member of a network; they gain bargaining power to resolve problems through interaction with organizations and legislators. The Association of Tehran Province Entrepreneurs has been formed to identify, gather, support and spearhead its members to the right direction and help them solve their problems by establishing links with governmental bodies, holding symposiums and training courses, and giving consultation. The association also aims to attract talented and interested youth and educate them,” he was quoted as saying by the Persian daily Jahan-e Sanat.
Referring to the migration of Iranian entrepreneurs to the neighboring countries like Georgia, Turkey and the UAE, Naqib said the lack of planning, necessary platforms and perspectives in Iran, while neighboring countries provide entrepreneurs with facilities, opportunities and extensive publicity, is a wakeup call for the economy.
“Restrictive bureaucracy, inconsistent rules and regulations, economic instability and inflation, as well as the existence of agencies involved in parallel decision-making, tie the hands of investors and kill their motivation but there are still a number of people who, despite all the problems, are willing to start a business,” he said.
“It is high time an independent center to attract representatives of relevant agencies is created to centralize all matters related to the business environment and the activities of employment-generating companies. It can help save time for interaction between different agencies and streamline the affairs. Instead of referring to different organizations or continuously responding to them, economic players will be able to solve all their problems through this center. We can learn from the countries that have succeeded in this regard.”
Noting that knowledge-based companies are the fruit of entrepreneurship, the official said by launching knowledge-intensive enterprises, entrepreneurs can actualize their ideas.
“Entrepreneurship derives from the personality of the entrepreneur, but in this day and age, genius alone is not enough; gathering up-to-date knowledge and skills in specialized fields and getting familiar with the business environment and availing yourself of the experiences of others play an important role in gaining success,” he said.
Naqib says universities can be effective in educating people, but it seems that they have failed to provide proper planning for the elites.
“Universities and higher education centers should be more diligent in this regard and take steps to offer proper guidance. This requires accultration and closer ties with universities,” he added.
Stressing that most startups are based on creativity and new ideas, he said the secret to their success is a good understanding of the current business environment.
“One of the effective factors in the formation and success of startups is the use of entrepreneurial talent. Many of the country’s scientists have been forced to leave the country thanks to the existing conditions but they will return to the country if the right conditions are provided,” he said.
“Negligence disheartens a genius. On the contrary, the provision of special facilities by other countries encourages them to emigrate. This is while it is possible to identify talented students in universities and support them to work at least in the fields related to their skills through networking.”
According to the official, the Association of Tehran Province Entrepreneurs has been registered in the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.
It pursues two main goals: The first is to resolve the problems that have led to inefficiency through government agencies and parliament and the second goal is to create entrepreneurial solutions and opportunities for people who have sufficient motivation to develop their talents.
“The scarcity of resources resulting from economic sanctions and political tensions has increased business risks but this can help create new opportunities for entrepreneurship as well. Undoubtedly, the association can identify entrepreneurs and gather them in one organization. It can provide room for consensus and establish relationships with universities, organizations and governmental bodies and the private sector,” he concluded.
