The Seventh Development Plan Vision
The country's Seventh Development Plan has been launched with an annual economic growth of 8%, completion of value chains, development of Iranian exports, and productivity as its four key pillars. Achieving these goals is no easy task when Iran's economy faces challenges such as lack of investment, weak technological infrastructure, and complex bureaucracy.
Among the industries that can serve as a realistic combination of vision and action in the Seventh Plan is the elevator and escalator industry — an industry that may seem small at first glance, but in practice is the driving force of urban development, job creation, and technology localization.
A Mature Industry with Latent Capacities
The elevator and escalator industry in Iran, with 106 years of history since the first elevator entered the country, began moving toward localization after the 1979 revolution and the gradual exit of global brands. Gradually, and especially in the past decade with the onset of sanctions, a massive transformation took shape. Sanctions turned into an opportunity; thanks to the law on maximizing domestic production capacity, official statistics show that more than 85% of elevator components have been localized domestically, with only a fraction still imported due to lack of economic viability.
This level of self-sufficiency is the result of the efforts of thousands of specialists, dozens of production units, and several professional associations that have managed to put the domestic market almost entirely in the hands of Iranian manufacturers. If this industry receives targeted support in the Seventh Plan, it can become one of the true symbols of realizing the slogan of "Iranian production and technology leap."
From Policy to Action; The Role of the Ministry of Industry
The Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, as the main policy authority in the industrial sector, bears a heavy responsibility in implementing articles related to industrial development in the Seventh Plan. Based on Articles 47 to 50 of the plan, the ministry is required to complete the value chain of selected industries and prevent raw material exports, while also supporting knowledge-based companies.
The elevator industry is precisely analyzable through this logic — a final product with a chain of electronic, metal, and software components, each of which can serve as a platform for domestic technology development.
By establishing the 'Elevator and Escalator Industry Development Headquarters' within the Ministry's Advanced Industries Deputy, the path to full localization and targeted exports can be pursued. This body should be responsible for facilitating permit issuance, liaising with standards bodies, and supporting knowledge-based companies.
Implementation of the National 'ASAP' Plan
For the elevator industry to play a real role in achieving the goals of the Seventh Plan, it is proposed that the National Plan for Technology Advancement and Localization of the Elevator and Escalator Industry (ASAP) be implemented. The key objectives of this plan are:
Self-Sufficiency in Critical Parts
Achieving full self-sufficiency in component production by the end of the plan.
Export Development
Increasing product exports to neighboring countries from annual production.
Energy Consumption Reduction
Upgrading design and using low-consumption modern motors.
National Innovation Center
Development of controllers, smart software, and use of artificial intelligence.
In addition, establishing a national technical identity system for elevators and continuous liaison between decision-making bodies will create employment for more than 40,000 people and increase public trust in elevator safety.
How Achievable Is the Export Dream?
Exporting elevator equipment from Iran to other countries may seem like a distant dream at first glance, but the experience of countries like Turkey and China has shown that this path is walkable. They first succeeded through localizing components and then by consolidating companies into export consortiums.
If the Ministry of Industry can, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and manufacturers' associations, form an elevator export consortium , the groundwork for Iran's cohesive entry into regional markets will be laid.
Challenges and Prerequisites
- Insufficient financial facilities and aging production equipment.
- Lack of a unified international standard in some products and competition with foreign goods.
- Shortage of trained technical personnel in installation and maintenance.
Solutions: Providing subsidy points for manufacturers to participate in reputable international exhibitions and forming broad cooperation among the Ministry of Industry, the National Standards Organization, and technical universities to make professional certifications mandatory for installers.