Pakistan business delegation joins SelectUSA summit in Maryland

A 16-member delegation of Pakistani entrepreneurs and business leaders is attending the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbour, Maryland, as the United States hosts its flagship event aimed at attracting foreign direct investment.

The four-day summit opened on Sunday and has drawn around 6,000 participants, including approximately 3,000 investors from more than 100 countries, alongside economic development organisations and industry experts.

Hosted by the US Department of Commerce, the summit serves as a platform to connect international investors with US economic development organisations and explore business expansion opportunities across the country.

US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker, in a video statement on Monday, welcomed the Pakistani delegation and said economic engagement remains central to US-Pakistan relations.

She said she looked forward to supporting Pakistani investors in expanding their global footprint in the United States.

“This is the premier event to promote foreign direct investment in the United States. By facilitating investment, innovation, and private sector collaboration, we can create jobs, drive growth, and build long-term prosperity for both our nations,” Baker said.

She added that the summit provides direct access to US leaders to identify investment opportunities across multiple sectors.

Since its launch, the SelectUSA Investment Summit has generated more than $256 billion in new investment projects in the United States and its territories, supporting over 130,000 jobs.

The previous edition recorded over 5,500 participants, including representatives from 54 US states and territories and more than 2,700 business investors from over 100 countries.

Pakistan’s participation comes amid broader efforts to deepen economic engagement with the United States. In 2024, Pakistan recorded a trade surplus of around $3 billion with the US, largely driven by textile exports, with the US remaining Pakistan’s largest export market for textiles.

In February, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met US Commerce Secretary Howard A. Lutnick in Washington, where both sides discussed strengthening trade and investment cooperation.

Earlier the same month, Pakistan also participated in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the US Department of State as part of efforts to attract foreign investment in minerals and energy sectors.