Biography of Mohammad Mahdi Salari
Mohammad Mahdi Salari is an Iranian executive whose record centers on marine industries policy and development, industrial technology, investment attraction, and the management of economic complexes. He is currently the CEO of the Shahr-e Aftab International Exhibitions Company in Tehran.
Before joining Shahr-e Aftab, he served from November 2023 to September 2025 as Maritime Affairs Advisor to the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade and as Head of the Secretariat of Iran's Supreme Council of Marine Industries. His earlier record includes advising the CEO of MAPNA Group, managerial roles at the Kowsar Economic Organization, and responsibilities in the technology sector.
The recurring themes of his public positions and initiatives are value-chain development, private sector participation, financing of large projects, technology localization, exhibition infrastructure development, clean transport projects, and transforming Shahr-e Aftab from a purely exhibition venue into a commercial and investment complex.
His consistent management approach, both in marine industries and at Shahr-e Aftab: focus on major infrastructure projects, resolving the financing bottleneck, and engaging the private sector.
Executive Record
MAPNA Group & Kowsar Economic Organization
His officially announced record includes advising the CEO of MAPNA Group — one of Iran's largest industrial and energy groups — managerial roles at the Kowsar Economic Organization, and responsibilities in the technology sector.
Ministry of Industry & Supreme Council of Marine Industries (2023–2025)
On 30 October 2023, he was appointed by the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade as Maritime Affairs Advisor and Head of the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Marine Industries. His mandate covered green propulsion, advanced vessels, drilling platforms, value-chain networking, support for knowledge-based companies, and strengthening shipbuilding and offshore industries.
Key initiatives of this roughly two-year tenure include drafting the ten-pillar sea-based development program, the first sea-based economy matchmaking event with MOUs of a nominal value of about three billion dollars, and the launch of a domestic consortium to build a jack-up offshore drilling rig.
Shahr-e Aftab International Exhibition (2026–present)
On 20 January 2026, by decree of the Mayor of Tehran, he took over the management of the Shahr-e Aftab International Exhibitions Company, with a mandate to raise the company's standards, protect its assets, remove obstacles, and implement the municipality's approved programs.
The main axes of his management include the World Trade Building project, the groundbreaking of a specialized electric vehicle center, maintaining and upgrading exhibition infrastructure, and planning the return of specialized and international events. Shahr-e Aftab offers 35,000 square meters of standard exhibition space.
Management Approach
Four main traits are visible in his published statements and initiatives:
Project orientation and infrastructure development:
whether in marine industries or at Shahr-e Aftab, his focus is on major physical projects, technology, and completing service chains.
Emphasis on investment and the private sector:
he has repeatedly identified financing as the bottleneck of development, stressing the role of investors, consortia, and private companies.
Networking across institutions:
his projects are typically defined with the participation of ministries, the municipality, industrial companies, universities, and investment groups.
Attention to technology and localization:
green propulsion, drilling rigs, knowledge-based companies, electric vehicles, and solar energy are recurring themes in his announced activities.