Page 34 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGIONAL NEWS

Digital Investment Milestone: Pakistan Becomes First to Host DCO’s DFDI
Forum

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO),
in partnership with the Government of
Pakistan, today celebrated the successful
conclusion of the inaugural Digital Foreign
Direct Investment Forum 2025 (DFDI) held
in Islamabad. The two-day Forum, hosted
29-30 April 2025, served as a strategic
platform, convening 700 delegates
spanning Heads of State, ministers, global
investors, policy makers and tech leaders
from DCO Member States and beyond,
as they explored ways to redefine digital
investment frameworks and unlock new
investment opportunities. A centerpiece of
the Forum was the launch of the Digital FDI
Pakistan Insight Report, which outlined the
pioneering blueprint pursued by Pakistan
in its digital development. Building on the
Digital FDI Initiative, the report recognizes
Pakistan as the first nation to implement
the initiative across its four pillars and
identified six strategic priority actions
to attract sustained digital investment. startups showcasing their products. Around the success of the first DFDI,” said H.E.
Commenting on the conclusion of DFDI, 35 ministers and official delegations from Deemah AlYahya. “The DFDI Forum has
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif various countries attended, along with demonstrated the transformative power
said, “Pakistan is proud to lead the way in over 30 global speakers and more than of investment in bridging digital divides
digital transformation, and the success of 50 CEOs from leading IT firms. Federal and accelerating sustainable growth. More
DFDI is a testament to our commitment Minister for IT & Telecommunication, H.E. than just an event, it is a declaration that
to fostering a thriving, investment-friendly Shaza Fatima Khawaja, also highlighted Pakistan is ready to lead in the global
digitally enabled economy through a Pakistan’s rapid progress in digital digital economy. Pakistan is not waiting for
multistakeholder approach. With the governance and infrastructure. She said: the future to happen; it is actively shaping
support of DCO, fellow DCO Member “In just one year, under the leadership it on its own terms, driven by its ambition
States and partners, we are creating a of the Honorable Prime Minister, we’ve and vision,” she added. The DCO remains
blueprint for sustainable development delivered resoundingly across digital committed to building a global investment
that will benefit not only Pakistan and governance, exports, infrastructure, and environment where all nations can harness
our digital ecosystem, but all nations skills. Our IT exports have grown by digital innovation to drive inclusive and
undergoing a digital transformation”. At 25% from last year, 146 departments sustainable growth. Pakistan is one of
DFDI, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also have been digitally transformed, and five founding members of the DCO, which
recognized the leadership of Secretary- Pakistan has risen 14 places in the UN’s was established in November 2020 on
General Deemah AlYahya and the DCO for e-government development index. This is the sidelines of the G20 in Riyadh. With
their role in advancing Pakistan’s digital the foundation for a truly investment-ready its 2026 presidency on the horizon, the
foreign investment ecosystem, which digital economy.” “On behalf of the Digital country is strategically positioning itself as
has already attracted over $700 million in Cooperation Organization, I wish to express a leader in the digital economy, poised to
digital economy inflows. The event saw our deep appreciation to the Government drive global conversations, partnerships,
participation from more than 45 countries, of Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz and innovations that will shape the future
with over 40 international companies and Sharif for their stellar efforts in enabling of digital investment.

34 MAY 2025