KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met a delegation of Malaysia’s leading business group, Gobi Partners, in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. The delegation was led by the company’s co-founder and chair, Thomas Tsao.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister said Pakistan and Malaysia have immense untapped potential to enhance cooperation in economic and trade sectors, adding that both countries are actively working to strengthen bilateral ties.
Strengthening trade and business-to-business links
Shehbaz Sharif described the recently held Pakistan-Malaysia Business and Investment Conference as a welcome step towards building stronger business-to-business linkages between the two nations. He said Pakistan is determined to create a business-friendly environment and improve ease of doing business to attract international investors.
He highlighted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is actively working to provide all possible facilities to foreign investors.
Gobi Partners shows confidence in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem
The Prime Minister appreciated Gobi Partners’ confidence in Pakistan’s growing startup ecosystem, calling it a positive sign for the country’s innovation-driven economy. He said the government is implementing focused reforms to support startups and early-stage investors by improving access to infrastructure and investment opportunities.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government’s priority is to mobilise both domestic and international capital to build a sustainable startup ecosystem in Pakistan.
Focus on digital economy and emerging technologies
Highlighting the importance of technology in national growth, the Prime Minister said Pakistan’s digital economy, particularly fintech, e-commerce, and IT services, holds a central place in the country’s development strategy.
He added that Pakistan welcomes international business groups and investors to explore opportunities in its IT, technology, and artificial intelligence sectors, given their vast potential.
The Gobi Partners delegation expressed keen interest in collaborating with Pakistan in the fields of e-commerce and financial technologies.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and senior government officials also attended the meeting.
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