According to the Public Relations Department of the Iran International Exhibitions Association, a training workshop for financial and administrative managers of exhibition centers across the country was held on May 20, 2025, hosted by the Association at the Iran Chamber of Commerce. The event brought together the financial and administrative managers of these centers, along with a group of leading instructors and industry experts. During the workshop, Rahim Jalili, President of the Association; Reza Nouri, Chief Auditor of the Supreme Audit Court; Abbas Borhani, lecturer and consultant in the exhibition industry; and Saeed Mohammadi, tax law instructor, delivered talks emphasizing the advancement of specialized knowledge within human resources, strategic planning for development, and the crucial role of training in achieving sustainable growth for the exhibition sector.

Specialized training as the Association’s long-term development strategy
Rahim Jalili, President of the Iran International Exhibitions Association, stated that all feasible measures have been taken to improve the sector’s infrastructure. Highlighting constructive cooperation between the private sector and the government, he referred to the Association’s diverse programs and added that, besides these initiatives, serious efforts are underway to organize and structure human resources working at exhibition centers throughout Iran. To date, three cohorts of managers from these centers have participated in Association-hosted training workshops. Jalili emphasized the valuable presence of industry veterans, and noted that specialist staff across centers should foster greater cohesion and synergy. He underlined the Association’s emphasis on building this cohesion and necessary networking through ongoing training programs. He further stated that, in the past year, workshops organized at Iran Mall for public relations, executive and exhibition teams received positive feedback regarding the quality of education and networking opportunities.
Jalili went on to mention that coordination and communication groups for various functional units at exhibition centers have been set up on online platforms. After each training session, elections are held to designate five members for the strategic working group for each job category. These individuals are officially appointed by the Iran International Exhibitions Association, after which specialized meetings are organized to tackle specific challenges, with critical issues referred to the board of directors.
He reiterated that developing and training specialized staff is a vital long-term strategy for effective management in every area. Jalili expressed optimism, noting that with sound planning and problem-solving through government cooperation, the status and capacity of Iran’s exhibition centers will be significantly elevated.

A progressive initiative in industry-focused training
During the session, Abbas Borhani, consultant and exhibition industry lecturer, emphasized that sustainable development is fundamentally rooted in effective training. Without practical and impactful training, delivered by capable instructors and relevant content, he said, it is not possible to achieve true sustainability. He stressed that training should be recognized as a development necessity at the national level.
Borhani explained that the exhibition industry has distinctive features such as the concentration of time and place, which requires highly capable human resources to ensure optimal and effective operations. He pointed out that staff must be up-to-date with specialized and modern management training, as agile management is a necessity for the exhibition industry, and relevant models and techniques should be imparted to all staff. According to Borhani, adoption of such models leads to visible changes in staff behavior at all organizational levels.
He emphasized the need for distinctive human resources, explaining that human capital development must extend beyond individual provinces to the entire national industry. Proper recruitment, professional training, and succession planning are essential, and neglecting them threatens not only the exhibition sector but any industry. Borhani called the Association’s industry-specific workshops a commendable step that must continue. If even one continuous improvement model is internalized by participants, he said, it is a significant achievement given the attendees’ enthusiasm.
Borhani also highlighted challenges in recruitment practices and diminishing autonomy at exhibition centers, but welcomed the emergence of professional organizations that assess and introduce skilled specialists based on clear organizational criteria. He concluded by noting that comprehensive human capital management—from recruitment, training, and succession to performance assessment, compensation, retention, and career progression—is vital, and any omission can undermine the entire management cycle.

The Association’s contribution to national economic dynamism
In his remarks, Saeed Mohammadi, tax law instructor, explained that the training covered the tax provisions of the fiscal year 1404 (2025) with special emphasis on corporate obligations and responsibilities. Subjects included legal requirements companies must fulfill, applicable tax rates, as well as legal exemptions and incentives available in the new fiscal year. Mohammadi explained that the training was attended by administrative and financial personnel from exhibition companies across the country, and highlighted the importance of ongoing education given the breadth and complexity of tax law changes in Iran. Continuous training, he remarked, is necessary to help financial staff steer clear of tax risks and fulfill their duties effectively.
Mohammadi pointed out that international exhibition companies play an important role in presenting goods and services, exploring new markets, and showcasing regional and national capabilities. He noted that the specialized activities of the Iran International Exhibitions Association directly contribute to economic dynamism, improved economic conditions, higher productivity, and increased employment.

The Association as a pillar in national development
Elsewhere in the session, Reza Nouri, Chief Auditor of the Supreme Audit Court, with more than 28 years of experience in teaching and financial law and regulation, stated that relevant financial and administrative laws outlined in the Seventh National Development Plan, the 2025 budget, and other key frameworks have been compiled into a single educational package for financial and administrative managers. The intention is to prevent compliance issues and legal risk for those in executive roles.
Nouri also noted that the Iran International Exhibitions Association is regarded as one of the main pillars of the nation’s development, with explicit mandates in the Seventh Development Plan for the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, particularly in relation to international exhibitions. He concluded by explaining that these training programs are designed to ensure managers are prepared to fulfill their obligations and contribute to Iran’s development objectives.
End of report.