• The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the Government of Pakistan successfully conclude inaugural Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum 2025, convening 700 global leaders.
• Pakistan launches the first national implementation of the DCO Digital FDI Initiative, with $700M in digital investment to date.
• Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and DCO Secretary-General, H.E. Deemah AlYahya affirm multistakeholder leadership in driving digital transformation, with Pakistan Prime Minister personally recognizing DCO Secretary-General for advancing Pakistan’s Digital FDI ecosystem.

Islamabad, Pakistan – 06 May 2025: 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.

Commenting on the conclusion of DFDI, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif said, “Pakistan is proud to lead the way in digital transformation, and the success of DFDI is a testament to our commitment to fostering a thriving, investment-friendly digitally enabled economy through a multistakeholder approach. With the support of DCO, fellow DCO Member States and partners, we are creating a blueprint for sustainable development that will benefit not only Pakistan and our digital ecosystem, but all nations undergoing a digital transformation”.

At DFDI, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also recognized the leadership of Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya and the DCO for their role in advancing Pakistan’s digital foreign investment ecosystem, which has already attracted over $700 million in digital economy inflows. The event saw participation from more than 45 countries, with over 40 international companies and startups showcasing their products. Around 35 ministers and official delegations from various countries attended, along with over 30 global speakers and more than 50 CEOs from leading IT firms.

Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, H.E. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, also highlighted Pakistan’s rapid progress in digital governance and infrastructure. She said: “In just one year, under the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister, we’ve delivered resoundingly across digital governance, exports, infrastructure, and skills. Our IT exports have grown by 25% from last year, 146 departments have been digitally transformed, and Pakistan has risen 14 places in the UN’s e-government development index. This is the foundation for a truly investment-ready digital economy.”

“On behalf of the Digital Cooperation Organization, I wish to express our deep appreciation to the Government of Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their stellar efforts in enabling the success of the first DFDI,” said H.E. Deemah AlYahya.

“The DFDI Forum has demonstrated the transformative power of investment in bridging digital divides and accelerating sustainable growth. More than just an event, it is a declaration that Pakistan is ready to lead in the global digital economy. Pakistan is not waiting for the future to happen; it is actively shaping it on its own terms, driven by its ambition and vision,” she added. The DCO remains committed to building a global investment environment where all nations can harness digital innovation to drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

Pakistan is one of five founding members of the DCO, which was established in November 2020 on the sidelines of the G20 in Riyadh. With its 2026 presidency on the horizon, the country is strategically positioning itself as a leader in the digital economy, poised to drive global conversations, partnerships, and innovations that will shape the future of digital investment.

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