The Iranian government has announced a new measure to support the production of indigenous mobile messaging applications in the face of tough competition from foreign counterparts.

Due to the popularity of instant mobile messaging, localizing the technology has always been one of the main concerns of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology that consider Iranian data held by foreign companies as unacceptable, according to local media agencies.

Sorena Sattari, vice president for science and technology, announced the government�s plan and said indigenous messengers are one of the applications that should be developed.

In a meeting between officials and entrepreneurs related to the sector, Sattari emphasized that �the government must refrain from interfering in the work of knowledge-based companies, but facilitating the sector is a must�.

�The most effective measure that the government can and should do is create an environment where innovation and creativity can grow. Offering customs, taxes and military service exemptions, as well as promoting the industry nationwide are some of the measures that should be implemented,� he said.

The announcement follows recent statements by Iran's High Council on Cyberspace that said foreign messaging apps must bring servers to Iran or face being blocked by the country's cyber police.

By Financial Tribune