First step to invest in Iran is to know about the laws

By in Advertising

Iran against the background of permanent output losses from the global sanction and a protracted decline in its potential growth, now by structural reforms after lifting sanctions, made a new way to revive growth in world’s economy, which is increasingly advocated by policymakers and institutions as a great chance for those who seek new opportunities in middle east and Asia region.

In order to invest in Iran with the purpose of forming branches or any representative offices in Iran, first step is to know about Iran’s “Laws” and respect them carefully. So the vital basis to enter a whole new market such as Iran is to have some local consultants that are well known about all codes, edicts, rules, rights and… in Iran, this would protect any business deal and would guarantee your safe entrance to this new market and also you will avoid many costly pitfalls by being armed with this information beforehand.

The government of Iran generally protects the legal rights of foreign companies active in Iran, licensed investors, registered branches or representative offices in exactly the same manner as it does with Iranian companies.

The key factor to have a successful business in a country is marketing and advertising your products or services effectively. However, all businesses have a legal responsibility to ensure that any advertising claims are truthful, not deceptive and that your marketing activities don’t break the law, but still different organizations, such as ministry of commerce, Ministry of Islamic Guidance, advertising organization, Management and Planning Organization and… have their own criteria and regulations for accepting radio and TV commercial, billboards, internet advertising and etc. These laws can potentially impact many areas of your business, including how you label your products, how you conduct email and telemarketing campaigns, any health and environmental claims you may make, as well as how you advertise to children. That’s why foreign investors usually tend to have local partners that are familiar with working conditions, regulations, and official rules to use the local facilities and understand how these laws apply to their business.

Television and radio commercial, print advertising, OOH and even advertising in social media shall enjoy freedom of expression provided what they publish does not violate Islamic principles or the civil code, there are so many laws in this field but here are the most important laws that all kind of ads are obliged to observe in Iran:

  1. Publishing atheistic articles or issues which are prejudicial to Islamic codes and promoting subjects which might damage the foundation of the Islamic Republic.
  2. Propagating obscene and religiously forbidden acts and publishing indecent pictures and issues which violate public decency.
  3. Encouraging and instigating individuals and groups to act against the security, dignity and interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran within or outside the country.
  4. Insulting Islam and its sanctities or offending the Leader of the Revolution and recognized religious authorities (senior Islamic jurisprudents).
  5. In all kind of advertising men and women, specially women must completely comply with the Islamic hijab that accurately defined and specified in the Iranian constitution.
  6. Advertising is only permitted for products and services whose qualities have been officially verified by one of the recognized research centers in the country, by complying with the provisions of the article of the regulations covering the establishment and supervision of the methods that advertising organizations would operate, and its related paragraphs.
  7. Rules of advertising in e-commerce force suppliers to provide accurate, correct, complete and not-deceptive information of the products or services to the Also name and identity of the person or firm that have benefits of this advertising must be well introduce to the users and also users must have enough power to make decisions about sharing their personal information.

There are so many other rules and laws that any brand must have known before advertising in Iran. The procedure of obtaining different permits from different organizations in accordance with routine and confide laws of advertising in Iran would take time and need special expertise.

Maat full service agency as one of the middle east advertising company leaders with years of experience in advertising industry in Iran and with comprehensive knowledge of the uncertain market of middle-east, will provide all kinds of advertising for all non-Iranian businesses, while considering the whole legal procedure precisely and also in order to pave the way for all non-Iranian business or brands, Maat advertising agency would provide best consults to get the most benefits out of the advertising processes. Also Maat Marcom Agency with their great lawyer partners, would help brands to reach the most welcome situation in Iran’s market. Maat expertise and partners help your brand to build a position that would enable it to compete with their Iranian counterparts in a same industry.

Maat holding is one of the top international advertising agency in Iran that organized into 6 different and successful subsidiaries:

Nilmoti: Nilmoti is one of Maat subsidiaries that works in art and fashion with the aim of Designing and producing luxury clothes or even organizational uniforms based on Iranian lady style.

Macan: Macan is one of the other subsidiaries of Maat that tries to provide all digital related services, start with creating, improving, and enhancing digital assets, online market research, writing 360º marketing campaigns, purchasing, planning, and performing digital media and…

Hoodad Tech: A subsidiary of Maat which provide Mobile Application, Software development (websites, web applications, API…), IT platform design and maintenance (VoIP, Application server, …), Mobile software development (Android, iOS, …)

Houger: This subsidiary was established with the purpose of making strong, efficient and long-lasting relationship to the costumers through PR activities. Houger activities includes: Making news reportage for magazines and news agencies, Field force activities, Crisis management, BTL, TTL, ATL,… .

Maatel: Some of the main services and activities of This subsidiary are: VAS Project planning, VAS plans along 360◦ campaigns and VAS proposals through customer insight analysis, Brand development via VAS mask SMS/IVR promotions and,… .

Armani: This subsidiary is built to make a beneficial relationship between brands and movie owners in the basis of home view network. Services that they offer are: Purposeful broadcasting of commercials in home series network, holding out red carpet events for launching movie and etc.

For more information about advertising in Iran contact us: info@maat.ir