Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have committed to enhancing digital investment and technology partnerships to boost Pakistani startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Saudi market. The agreement was made during a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Saudi Deputy Investment Minister, Ibrahim Almubarak, at LEAP 2025 in Riyadh.
The discussions focused on fostering business-to-business (B2B) collaborations, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and fintech. Shaza Fatima reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to creating an investor-friendly digital ecosystem and attracting global stakeholders. Saudi Arabia expressed confidence in Pakistan’s skilled workforce and technological capabilities, noting the potential for cross-border venture capital investments to help Pakistani startups expand globally.
Both countries agreed to simplify licensing and registration processes for Pakistani companies entering the Saudi market and to enhance joint research and development (R&D) initiatives. They also discussed digitizing the degree attestation process for Pakistani professionals seeking opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
Shaza Fatima emphasized the importance of strong digital economic cooperation to drive regional growth and innovation. During the “Shaping the Future of Ethical AI: Multilateral Perspectives on Governance and Risk Management” panel, she highlighted the transformative power of AI and the need for ethical governance, data privacy, security, and fairness in AI systems to ensure equal digital opportunities for all.