Pakistan and China Friday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in innovation, science, technology and investment as OIC- COMSTECH hosted policymakers, investors, business leaders and entrepreneurs for the Global South Innovation and Investment Summit 2026.
COMSTECH hosts Global South Innovation and Investment Summit to strengthen Pakistan-China technology cooperation
ISLAMABAD, Aug 07 (APP): Pakistan and China Friday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in innovation, science, technology and investment as OIC- COMSTECH hosted policymakers, investors, business leaders and entrepreneurs for the Global South Innovation and Investment Summit 2026.
Jointly organized by OIC-COMSTECH, Pathfinder CITADEL Pakistan and the Commercial Culture Association of China (CCAC), the summit brought together a 13-member Chinese business delegation, senior government officials, diplomats, investors, chief executive officers, startup founders, university leaders, researchers, technology experts and policymakers to promote innovation, technology commercialization and cross-border investment across the Global South.
Federal Minister for Investment and Chairman, Board of Investment (BoI), Qaiser Sheikh, attended the summit as chief guest.
The programme also featured addresses by Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Senior Honorary Advisor OIC-COMSTECH Dr. Shahid Mahmud, President Pathfinder CITADEL AVM Asad Ikram, Deputy Secretary General of the Commercial Culture Association of China (CCAC) Mr. Li Ang and Deputy Secretary General Ms. Wu Chenxi.
Welcoming the participants, Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, said the Global South, home to more than two billion people, possesses enormous scientific, technological and entrepreneurial potential that should be transformed into innovation-driven economic growth. He emphasized that OIC member states must move beyond being consumers of technologies developed elsewhere and become creators of indigenous solutions addressing their own development priorities.
Prof. Choudhary said COMSTECH, as the OIC’s ministerial standing committee on science and technology, continues to strengthen cooperation among its 57 member states through research fellowships, academic mobility programmes, capacity-building initiatives, the COMSTECH AI Centre for Training and Research, the COMSTECH-Huawei ICT Academy, environment, climate change, technovation academy, and collaborative platforms linking universities, research institutions, governments and industry.
He stressed that innovation must be supported by strategic investment, international partnerships and technology transfer to deliver sustainable socio-economic development.
Addressing the summit, Federal Minister for Investment and Chairman, Board of Investment, Mr. Qaiser Sheikh, appreciated OIC-COMSTECH, Pathfinder CITADEL and the Commercial Culture Association of China for organizing the summit and bringing together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists and business leaders on a common platform. He described the initiative as a timely and much-needed effort that reflects Pakistan’s commitment to promoting innovation-led investment, technology partnerships and international cooperation.
The minister said Pakistan must translate dialogue into practical outcomes by converting ideas into investment, proposals into joint ventures, innovation into production, and partnerships into exports and employment. He emphasized that the next phase of Pakistan-China cooperation should focus on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, startup development and stronger university-industry collaboration.
He assured participants that Pakistan remains committed to facilitating long-term investment through transparent policies, institutional support and an investor-friendly environment.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting Chinese delegation, CCAC Deputy Secretary General Mr. Li Ang praised OIC-COMSTECH for its vision and leadership in organizing the summit and appreciated the warm hospitality extended by Pakistan. He said the delegation had witnessed Pakistan’s dynamic innovation ecosystem, talented youth, industrial capabilities and growing investment opportunities.
He reaffirmed China’s commitment to expanding cooperation in science, technology, industrial innovation, advanced manufacturing, entrepreneurship and research, expressing confidence that practical partnerships developed through the summit would further strengthen the enduring Pakistan-China friendship.
Senior Honorary Advisor OIC-COMSTECH, Dr. Shahid Mahmud, highlighted the importance of building a sustainable innovation ecosystem that connects researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers across the Global South. He appreciated the visiting Chinese delegation for projecting Pakistan’s positive image through their engagements and social media outreach during the visit and expressed confidence that the summit would evolve into a long-term platform for innovation-driven collaboration.
Participants discussed strategies for strengthening technology commercialization, startup financing, artificial intelligence, clean technologies, industrial innovation, research collaboration and investment facilitation. The summit also provided opportunities for Pakistani entrepreneurs, investors, chambers of commerce and members of the Chinese delegation to establish business linkages and explore future joint ventures.
The organizers said the Global South Innovation & Investment Summit represents another milestone in COMSTECH’s efforts to strengthen science diplomacy, promote innovation-led sustainable development and enhance scientific, technological and economic cooperation among OIC member states and Global South partners through strategic international collaboration.
