Pakistan seeks to become a leader in the digital economy with foreign investment initiative

Country becomes first in world to introduce Digital Foreign Direct Investment initiative

The initiative is backed by the government of Pakistan and the Digital Co-operation Organisation (DCO).

In a bold move, placing Pakistan at the forefront of the global digital economy, the country becomes the first in the world to introduce the Digital Foreign Direct Investment Initiative. Backed by the Government of Pakistan and the Digital Co-operation Organisation, this transformative launch is set to redefine how digital investment flows into emerging markets and who gets to shape the digital future.

With a vision built on innovation, inclusion, and international collaboration, the DFDI Initiative unlocks new pathways to sustainable economic growth. It marks a turning point for Pakistan, not just as a participant, but as a regional trailblazer in digital transformation. As the 2026 DCO presidency looms, Pakistan 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.

Islamabad aims to be ‘Davos of digital FDI’

Islamabad isn’t just hosting the DFDI Forum 2025 — it’s making a global statement. Poised to become the “Davos of digital foreign direct investment,” the city is opening its doors to tech visionaries, policymakers and investors from 16 DCO member countries and beyond.

The event is set to be held on April 29 and 30.

This isn’t business as usual. The forum is more than a conference - it’s a launchpad for ideas, capital, and cross-border partnerships that will define the digital decade. Expect bold conversations, high-impact networking, and game-changing opportunities, all under one roof, in the heart of Pakistan’s capital.

A blueprint for digital growth: Pakistan’s DEP policy

At the core of this transformation is the Digital FDI-Enabling Policy, a comprehensive framework that lays the foundation for fast-tracked digital development across Pakistan and other emerging economies.

Designed for scale, agility, and investor confidence, the DEP focuses on four high-impact pillars:

● Building infrastructure: Investing in next-gen digital connectivity

● Accelerating adoption: Helping industries go digital, faster

● Fueling innovation: Backing cutting-edge tech solutions and startups

● Expanding digital exports: Scaling Pakistan’s booming IT and service sectors

These pillars work to create a vibrant, investment-ready ecosystem where international capital meets local talent to spark exponential growth. This isn’t just a plan—it’s Pakistan’s digital future, written with intention.

World watches Pakistan’s digital ascent

The signals are clear: Pakistan’s digital economy isn’t just growing - it’s accelerating.

With a 25.5 per cent surge in ICT exports over just eight months, the country is fast emerging as one of the most dynamic digital investment frontiers in the Global South. From AI and fintech to cybersecurity, gaming, and cloud computing, Pakistan is building an innovation engine fueled by a young, tech-savvy workforce, favourable regulations, and a forward-leaning policy environment.

The DFDI Forum 2025 is your gateway to this transformation - your chance to be early, be bold, and be part of the next big frontier in global digital investment.

This is where ambition meets execution. DFDI Forum 2025 brings the entire digital ecosystem under one roof - startups, regulators, investors, development partners, and multinational tech leaders - in a space designed for meaningful engagement.

Through curated B2B meetups, high-level roundtables, and candid conversations with decision-makers, the Forum is a hub of real-world deals and collaborative breakthroughs.

Whether you’re scouting your next venture, exploring emerging markets, or building policy blueprints, this is the forum where ideas turn into action.

Global context: Why DFDI matters now

In an increasingly digital world, foreign direct investment must evolve. Traditional FDI models are being reshaped by data flows, digital infrastructure, and new modes of value creation. Yet many emerging markets remain underrepresented in global tech investment.

That’s why the DFDI Initiative and this forum matter.

By creating a shared framework for digital FDI, Pakistan and the DCO are providing a blueprint for other nations to follow—one that promotes trust, transparency, and technology transfer, while driving inclusive and resilient growth.

By hosting this forum annually, Pakistan is signalling a long-term commitment to digital progress. It’s not just about a moment, it’s about momentum.

The DFDI Forum becomes a living, breathing engine of change—a space where global actors return again and again to push boundaries, form alliances, and build the future of digital investment together.

The DFDI Forum 2025 offers a front-row seat to a global digital shift. Be part of a movement that’s transforming how, where, and why digital investments happen. From policy innovations to platform revolutions, witness first-hand the forces shaping tomorrow’s global economy.

Pakistan is open for innovation, inviting the world to co-create a future built on trust, tech, and transformation.