Islamabad to host first EU–Pakistan Business Forum under €400 billion Global Gateway push

Pakistan will host the first high-level EU–Pakistan Business Forum on April 28–29 as both sides move to expand economic ties beyond trade towards investment and industrial collaboration.

The forum, to be held in Islamabad, comes as the European Union advances its €400 billion Global Gateway programme aimed at boosting global connectivity and sustainable development.

Policymakers, business leaders, investors, and financial institutions from Europe and Pakistan are expected to participate in the two-day event.

The European Union is Pakistan’s largest export destination and a major source of foreign direct investment, with both sides now seeking deeper engagement through technology partnerships and investment flows.

The forum will focus on sectors including agri-business, digital innovation and fintech, green logistics, textiles and apparel, and mining aligned with sustainability standards.

More than 300 European companies are currently operating in Pakistan, while additional firms are expected to explore opportunities during the event.

The programme includes over 600 scheduled business-to-business meetings, along with interactions between investors and European financial institutions aimed at facilitating transactions.

The EU’s envoy to Pakistan said the forum is intended to strengthen private sector engagement and support economic transition towards competitiveness and sustainability.

Officials said the initiative is part of efforts to position Pakistan within changing global supply chains and align economic cooperation with international standards on governance and transparency.