The animated short film “Legend” depicting the courage and heroism of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani will soon be unveiled. The short animation, produced and directed by Seyyed Mostafa Hosseini, will soon be released as the latest product from the Sureh Youth Cinema Center, Mehr reported on Saturday.

The film portrays the legendary figure that exists not in the pages of mythical history books, but in the contemporary era, the report added.

“Legend” utilizes the technique of comic motion and is presented in a 2D format, produced by a young team at Pouyano Studio in Mashhad.

It will be unveiled coinciding with the anniversary of the martyrdom of General Soleimani on January 3.

This 12-minute comic motion serves as the first animated work that describes the achievements and heroism of this commander on the path of faith and ideals.

Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani was a renowned Iranian military figure and a key strategist in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Born in 1957 in Qanat-e Malek, Iran, he dedicated his life to defending Iran’s interests. Soleimani played a pivotal role in numerous military operations, including the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He was widely respected for his strategic planning, leadership skills, and commitment to defending Iran against external threats.

Known as a charismatic and fearless commander, General Soleimani was revered by both his colleagues and the Iranian people. His unwavering dedication to protecting Iran’s security and sovereignty made him a symbol of strength and resilience.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including international sanctions and political tensions, Soleimani remained a crucial figure in Iran’s military and foreign policy. His assassination in January 2020 sent shockwaves through the region, as his loss was deeply mourned by Iranians and sparked a period of heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. General Qasem Soleimani will always be remembered for his significant contributions to Iran’s defense and his lasting impact on the region’s geopolitical landscape. /T.T/

Based on the data released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Iran has been among the top exporters of 11 major agricultural products in the world during 2022, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Iran was the world’s top exporter of figs in the mentioned year, exporting 10,000 tons of the product in 2022. Austria and Uzbekistan occupied the second and third places, respectively.

The Islamic Republic was also the world’s second-biggest pistachio exporter in the year under review after the U.S. The country exported 45,000 tons of pistachios to foreign destinations in the mentioned year.

Iran was also ranked second in terms of the export of dates after Iraq. In 2022, Iranian farmers exported more than 269,000 tons of dates, while Iraq exported 274,000 tons of the mentioned product.

The Islamic Republic was also ranked third in terms of watermelon exports. The country exported 375,000 tons of watermelons in 2022.

As for the exports of eggplants, according to the FAO statistics, the country ranks third in the world after Spain, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

The country’s raisin exports stood at 63,000 tons in 2022, putting Iran at fifth place among the world’s top exporters of the said product. Turkey is in first place with 278,000 tons of exports, followed by Uzbekistan and the U.S.

Over 73,000 tons of kiwis were also exported from Iran in 2022, which was less than the exports of only five countries. New Zealand stood in first place in the world with the export of 89,000 tons of the mentioned product.

FAO statistics show that Iran also stood among the world’s top producers and exporters of many agricultural products in 2021.

Based on the FAO data, the Islamic Republic was the third-largest producer of dates, honey, pistachios, and walnuts in the world in 2021.

Iranian farmers produce 1.28 million tons of dates in the mentioned year, making the country the third-largest producer of this product in the world after Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Honey production in Iran was 80,000 tons in 2021, which was the highest honey production in a country after China and Turkey.

The Islamic Republic was also ranked third in the world in the production of walnuts with 356,000 tons of annual output. China stood in first place with 1.1 million tons of production and the United States was in second place.

Iran is also ranked fourth in terms of almond and watermelon production. The country’s almond production was reported to be 164,000 tons per year./T.T/

Yazd, a central Iranian city steeped in historical significance and cultural richness, has achieved a momentous honor by being designated as the tourism capital among member countries of the Asian Dialogue Forum (ACD) in 2024.

This significant announcement, marking Yazd as the nucleus for international discussions and collaborations within the ACD, stands as a testament to the city’s profound heritage and enduring allure.

Iran, presiding over the ACD since October 2023, witnessed Yazd’s triumph over candidates Kerman and Mashhad, solidifying its position as a beacon of cultural exchange and cooperative diplomacy.

With 35 member nations, the ACD remains a prominent platform fostering economic, social, and cultural growth since its establishment in 2002.

Yazd’s historical eminence, underscored by its UNESCO World Heritage status as the world’s premier adobe city, further enhances its newfound role. Renowned for its architectural marvels, Yazd encapsulates a tapestry of historical monuments, earning titles such as the “land of wind towers” among its many enchanting accolades.

This prestigious recognition propels Yazd onto the global stage, celebrating its legacy as a guardian of ancient traditions and a pivotal bridge for nurturing dialogue and collaboration among nations.

Yazd, a don’t miss destination

In July 2017, the historical core of Yazd was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Yazd is regularly referred to as a delightful place to stay, or a “don’t miss” destination by almost all of its visitors. The city is full of mudbrick houses that are equipped with innovative badgirs (wind catchers), atmospheric alleyways, and many Islamic and Iranian monuments that shape its eye-catching city landscape.

Cultural heritage experts believe that Yazd is a living testimony to the intelligent use of limited available resources in the desert for survival. Water is brought to the city by the qanat system. Each district of the city is built on a qanat and has a communal center. Furthermore, the use of earth in buildings includes walls and roofs through the construction of vaults and domes. Houses are built with courtyards below ground level, serving underground areas. Wind-catchers, courtyards, and thick earthen walls create a pleasant microclimate.

The historical core of Yazd is chockfull of mudbrick houses, bazaars, public bathhouses, water cisterns, mosques, synagogues, Zoroastrian temples, and centuries-old gardens. From the divine point of view, the city enjoys the peaceful coexistence of three religions: Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.

Yazd is home to numerous qanats which have supplied water to agricultural and permanent settlements for thousands of years. The man-carved underground qanat system relies on snow-fed streams flowing down the foothills of surrounding mountains. The earliest water supply to Yazd is estimated to date from the Sassanid era (224 to 651 CE). However, many others have been continually repaired and used over time, and most surviving Ab-Anbars (traditional mudbrick cisterns) can today be traced to the late Safavid and Qajar periods. /T.T/

Iran’s export of gas increased by 139 and 115 percent in value and volume respectively in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2023).

The country exported more than $2 billion worth of gas from March 21 to October 22, 2023, showing a 139 percent hike compared to last year’s corresponding period, according to the statistics of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI).

This is while Iran had exported more than $1 billion worth of gas overseas from March 21 to October 22, 2022, the TPOI added.

The TPOI noted that Iran exported 7.55 million tons of gas in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21 to October 22, 2023), registering a 115-percent hike in weight compared to the same period last year.

The value of each ton of Iranian gas, which stood at $304 in 2022, increased to $336 in 2023, showing an 11-percent growth. /MNA/

Iran’s deputy minister of industry, mine, and trade for industries affairs put the number of companies manufacturing medical equipment and machinery at 1,100.

More than 100 medical equipment and machinery produced by these companies observe the requirements of the European standards, Mohammad Mousavi noted.

He pointed out that competent domestic companies have attained a high capability of manufacturing medical-related equipment observing the requirements of international standards.

Following a visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi to Indonesia, Iranian companies exported a surgery robot to the Southeast Asian country, he said, adding that Iranian companies can export advanced medical equipment and machinery to other countries as well.

The time of delivery and quality of the product are the main two principles that should be taken into consideration in this field, the deputy industry minister emphasized.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Mousavi pointed to the production of face masks and other medical supplies during the global coronavirus pandemic and noted that the domestic companies managed to meet the demands in this critical condition.

While Western countries had imposed tough sanctions against the country, especially in the field of medicines and medical equipment, the domestic companies managed to manufacture hi-tech medical equipment and machinery, he continued.

Presently, two Iranian companies are producing advanced ventilators (breathing machines), the deputy industry minister stated.

Efforts are ongoing to get a considerable share of the global markets in the field of manufacturing advanced medical equipment, he added. /MNA/

The number of foreign arrivals in Iran reached 4.4 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), which shows 48.5 percent compared to that of the last year.

“Iran’s tourism experienced a growth of 48.5% in the first eight months of this year, attracting 4.4 million and 400 thousand visitors motivated by trade, medical treatment, pilgrimage, and tourism,” Moslem Shojai, who presides over the ministry’s foreign tourism marketing and development office, said on Tuesday.

Data compiled by the tourism ministry suggests that 1.8 million visitors from West Asia traveled to Iran in the first seven months of this year, showing a growth of about 31% compared to the same period last year. This growth surpassed that of Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

He said some 258,000 visitors from Turkey arrived in the Islamic Republic in the first six months of this year which shows a 36% growth compared to the same period last year.

Moreover, countries within the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization), including Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan, also saw a 55% growth with 1.1 million visitors in the first six months of this year, the official stated.

Referring to Chinese nationals, who enjoy visa-free travels to Iran, Shajai said: In the first six months of this year, the number of Chinese arrivals increased by 67% compared to the pre-pandemic period.

He said travel from Russia to Iran increased by approximately 14% with the entry of 21,200 people.

Despite reports from agencies indicating a decline in European tourist visits to Iran since last year. However, the official highlighted positive growth from some European countries.

“For instance, arrivals from Sweden experienced a 34% growth during the same period, accounting for about 6,600 visitors, including Iranian residents in Sweden traveling to Iran for tourism purposes.”

He put the number of German visitors to Iran at 12,000 in the first six months of this year, which is almost the same as the period last year.

Shojai highlighted notable growth in travel from India to Iran, with 31,000 visitors in the first six months of this year, experiencing a 25% growth compared to the same period last year.

Moreover, he emphasized that Iran’s tourism is not limited to a single market or specific type, as foreigners visit the country for various reasons including pilgrimage, medical treatment, trade, historical, and cultural interests.

Earlier this year, Ebrahim Pourfaraj, the former head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association, said the number of inbound passengers has dramatically declined, suggesting that “hardly any tourists come to Iran, not even for free.”

According to available data, the Islamic Republic saw 3.35 million foreign arrivals in the first half of the current Iranian year, which soared 38 percent year on year.

Pursuing a border-easing scheme, the Iranian government mulls abolishing visa requirements for passport holders from 68 countries. The country seeks to encourage overseas travelers, though available evidence suggests it will not be finalized to be implemented shortly. Its tentative list includes Argentina, South Africa, Indonesia, Jordan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ecuador, Algeria, UAE, Bahrain, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Paraguay, Peru, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Turkmenistan.

Tunisia, Czech Republic, Russia, Romania, Japan, Ivory Coast, Singapore, Senegal, Sudan, Seychelles, Chile, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Finland, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Cameroon, Croatia, South Korea, Colombia, Comoros, Kuwait, Guinea, Poland, Luxembourg, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Hungary, Macedonia, Mexico, Mauritius, Mali, Madagascar, Niger, Vietnam, Yemen, Greece, and India constitute other states whose nationals may be granted visa-free access.

According to available data, Iran’s tourism had constantly been growing before the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching more than eight million visitors in the Iranian calendar year 1398 (started March 21, 2019). Based on the latest United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer, foreign tourist arrivals in Iran reached some 2.93 million between January and July 2023.

The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 27 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. /T.T/

According to the Global Innovation Index (GII) report published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Iran has been the fastest-rising economy in the world, reaching from 113th place in 2013 to 62nd in 2023.

India (40th), Iran (62nd), and Kazakhstan (81st) are ranked first to third respectively in Central and Southern Asia, IRNA reported.

The global innovation and technology indicators include the index of creative outputs, knowledge and technology outputs, human capital and research, and business sophistication>

Iran is second within the region once again at 62nd position, following Turkey.

Also, in terms of the number of patents registered by WIPO, Iran ranks 51st in the world, next to the United States of America, Japan, and South Korea.

Among Islamic countries, Iran is ranked 5th with 1768 patents submitted. Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates ranked first to fourth with 17088, 8116, 5765, and 2942 patents respectively.

2023 edition of GII

According to the GII report, the Islamic Republic of Iran ranked second among the countries of the Central and Southern Asian region, unchanged compared with last year.

The report ranked Iran 19th, 43rd, and 55th in “Market sophistication”, “Creative outputs”, and “Knowledge and technology outputs”, respectively.

The GII 2023 used 80 indicators to track global innovation trends in 130-plus economies, guiding policymakers and business leaders in stimulating human ingenuity. This year, the report’s findings were unveiled against a background of slow economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, high-interest rates, and geopolitical conflict.

The 2023 edition identified an increasingly uncertain outlook for venture capital (VC) that helps transform human ingenuity into new products and services, with the global value of VC funding marking a significant plunge last year.

According to the GII 2023 rankings, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore are the top countries. China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Iran are the middle-income economies making the most headway in innovation over the last decade.

In the 16th report of the GII, which was announced at an event hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), it is stated that Iran ranks 62nd among 132 countries in the world and 6th among 37 countries in lower middle-income countries.

In knowledge and technology outputs, creative outputs, market sophistication, human capital, research, and infrastructure, Iran’s performance is above the average of the lower middle-income group.

On the other hand, Iran performs above the regional average (Central and South Asia) in all these indexes, except for the infrastructure.

Under the 6.2.2 index, which was presented in the 2022 report under the title of “New Businesses” and in the new report under the title of “Unicorn Valuation”, Iran’s rank has risen from 90 in 2022 to 48 in 2023.

Iran is the regional leader in Market sophistication (19th), and Creative outputs (43rd). It performs well in Intangible assets (13th), ranks 1st globally in Trademarks(1st), and in the top 15 worldwide in Graduates in Science and Engineering (3rd), Market capitalization (5th), and Industrial designs (11th). /T.T/

The team of Iranian researchers won a gold medal in the Invention Expo for Smart Sport Tourism with Marketing UAVs, which was held in Dubai from December 7-9.

With the support of the World Invention Intellectual Property Organization (WIIPA), the event was held in the eight fields of energy, medicine, information technology, aerospace, chemistry, physics, marketing and advertising, and art, IRIB reported.

More than 150 designs, inventions, and ideas were presented from 21 countries, including Iran, Germany, Croatia, Romania, South Korea, Singapore, England, Indonesia, China, and Poland.

The Iranian team consisted of tourism and tourism management students from Tehran and Shiraz universities.

Reza Heydari, Amirhossein Payandeh, Saman Keivannia, Mostafa Raftari, Amir Arghvan, and Amirhossein Lotfi, were the members of the Iranian team.

Their design is called “Smart Sport Tourism with Marketing UAVs” which uses a combination of aerospace sciences and technologies, tourism, and artificial intelligence.

The idea of Iranian researchers has been designed and tested in regard to the restrictions on access to sports tourism destinations and different sports events in the world due to economic, political, physical, and health restrictions.

It was evaluated by the jury of the festival in terms of innovation, practicality, design, affordability, social and economic effects, and market opportunities.

Thanks to being recognized as the best in its group, the design received the gold medal in the international competition.

Dubai Invention Expo

DIS, International Invention Show 2023, provides a business platform for inventors, manufacturers, and dealers to present their latest products and innovations and exchange information. For this occasion, delegations from more than 32 countries came to Dubai to present their patented inventions and new ideas, the competition brings together many participants and inventions in many diverse areas.

The renowned international contest is first and foremost a propitious place for professional exchanges where partners and contacts mingle in a convivial and positive atmosphere.

At DIS, excellence in innovation is highlighted through the Invention & Innovation Award, it brings recognition to the best inventions, innovations, and trade, adding onto its merit is supported by many international delegates.

This event offers a platform for innovation, a professional meeting place that gathers different players from the world of innovation, research, development, and financing, it covers areas such as energy, medicine, information technology, aerospace, biochemistry, and many more.

Developing AI on the agenda

President Ebrahim Raisi has issued an executive order for the establishment of the ‘National Steering Committee and the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center’.

Creating a complete and stable chain of ideas to market in AI, benefiting from AI for the economic progress of the country, planning to achieve a leading and sustainable position among the countries of the world, as well as identifying and nurturing talents in the field of AI are among the most important tasks of the national AI center, IRNA reported.

“Iran ranks 17th in artificial intelligence in terms of scientific production and publication of articles in the world, while ranks 78th in terms of its application in the world,” Rouhollah Dehqani-Firouzabadi, Vice President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-based Economy, has said.

The Vice Presidency has prepared three comprehensive plans to develop artificial intelligence in different sectors.

Currently, artificial intelligence is the first priority for the development of technology and is pursued with three programs, IRNA quoted Firouzabadi as saying

Artificial intelligence is a comprehensive technology and affects all other areas of technology, he highlighted.

“The plans in the field of artificial intelligence include scientific development programs that are mostly pursued in universities. The second plan is technology development programs that are pursued in companies that work in the field of artificial intelligence. And the third plan is the creation of a national technology hub in the field of artificial intelligence.” /T.T/

Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology Issa Zarepour has said that the Islamic Republic of Iran will launch astronauts into orbit with indigenous bio-capsule by the end of 2028.

Referring to the successful test fire of an indigenous bio-capsule, Zarepour said on Sunday that according to the 10-year plan of the country’s space industry, Iran will launch astronauts into orbit with indigenous bio-capsule by the end of 2028.

Iran’s newest biological capsule was successfully launched with the domestically-built Salman launcher on December 6, 2023.

The launch of the bio-space capsule is in line with the realization of the plan to send humans into space. It was launched to a height of 130 km from the earth’s surface to develop and acquire the technologies needed in this regard.

/MNA/

An Information Technology team from Iran has been awarded at the Second WorldSkills in the United Arab Emirates. In the prestigious vocational skills competition in Abu Dhabi, an Iranian team was awarded in the IT and Network categories.

In the 2nd WorldSkills Asia (WSA) Competition, an Iranian squad was awarded a medallion in the IT section.

Also in the Network category, the team received a prize named Best of Nation.

As many as 128 participants from 28 countries competed in the event which took place from 27th-29th November 2023. /MNA/