The IBI Group has announced plans to establish its digital economy headquarters in Pakistan, providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with direct access to the Chinese market.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the decision on Friday, calling the initiative a command center for national digital transformation benefiting the SME sector in the country.
An 11-member Chinese business delegation, led by IBI Beijing United Technology founder Qian Xiaojun, called on the prime minister at PM House in Islamabad on Friday.
PM Shehbaz welcomed the delegation, describing Pakistan and China as historic all-weather strategic cooperative partners with deeply rooted and enduring bilateral ties.
He expressed satisfaction over growing B2B cooperation between the two countries and said the IBI initiative would promote investment facilitation and industrial collaboration.
Qian Xiaojun expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic outlook, stating that IBI aims to help build a strong digital backbone for broader economic transformation.
The delegation’s visit follows the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference held in Beijing in September 2025, during PM Shehbaz’s official visit to China that month.
PM Shehbaz lauded China’s progress under President Xi Jinping’s leadership and said he is looking forward to his forthcoming official visit to China later this month.
He added that the IBI headquarters would provide significant digital opportunities, offering Pakistan’s SMEs a direct and structured gateway to the vast and growing Chinese marketplace.
Investment Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, and IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja were among the Pakistani officials present at the meeting.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, SAPM on Industries Haroon Akhtar, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, and other senior government officials also attended Friday’s high-level delegation meeting.
