https://arab.news/5ry82
- Conference brings together global leaders, investors to explore investment opportunities and advance technologies
- PM Shehbaz Sharif will explore enhanced trade, investment cooperation in talks with Saudi leadership during the visit
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday arrived in Riyadh along with a high-level delegation to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) summit, his office said, as Islamabad seeks to increase international trade and investment cooperation with the Kingdom.
The FII was launched by ’s Public Investment Fund in 2017 under its Vision 2030 program. The forum brings together global leaders, investors and innovators to explore investment opportunities and advance technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and green finance.
This year’s summit will focus on the theme: ‘The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth’ to address global challenges and opportunities, focusing on key topics such as innovation, sustainability, economic inclusion and geopolitical shifts.
Upon arrival at the King Khalid International Airport, PM Sharif and his delegation were received by the Deputy Governor of Riyadh, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki and Pakistani Ambassador to Ahmed Farooq.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will represent Pakistan at the Future Investment Initiative being held in Riyadh. During his visit, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman,” Sharif’s office said.
“Discussions will be held at the meeting on further promotion of cooperation between Pakistan and in the fields of trade, investment, energy and manpower. Views will also be exchanged on global and regional issues of mutual interest.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistants Tariq Fatemi and Bilal bin Saqib are accompanying the prime minister at the high-level visit.
“The prime minister will also hold meetings with world leaders and heads of international organizations who have come to participate in the Future Investment Initiative,” Sharif’s office added.
Pakistan and have long enjoyed close ties but have sought to broaden cooperation in recent years, including a defense pact signed in Riyadh during the prime minister’s visit on Sept. 18 and 34 memorandums of understanding worth $2.8 billion across multiple sectors last year.
The two nations share longstanding ties rooted in faith, mutual respect and strategic cooperation, with Riyadh remaining a key political and economic partner of Islamabad. The Kingdom also hosts over 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates, the largest source of remittances for Pakistan’s $407 billion economy.