Pakistan, China Push Digital Economy Hub to Boost SME Trade
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met a senior Chinese business delegation in Islamabad on Friday as Pakistan and China discussed deeper cooperation in the digital economy, industrial investment and business-to-business connectivity. The meeting focused on plans by IBI Beijing United Technology to establish a Pakistan digital economy headquarters, a move presented as a fresh step in expanding economic engagement between the two countries.
The 11-member delegation was led by Qian Xiaojun, founder, president and controlling shareholder of IBI Beijing United Technology. The discussions were held at the Prime Minister’s House and brought together key federal officials overseeing commerce, industry, information technology, investment and foreign policy coordination.
Shehbaz welcomed the delegation and described Pakistan-China relations as longstanding, trusted and strategically important. He said Pakistan valued China’s development experience and wanted to build stronger cooperation in areas that could directly support industrial growth, technology transfer and trade expansion.
A major part of the meeting centred on IBI Group’s decision to set up its Pakistan digital economy headquarters. The prime minister appreciated the proposal and encouraged Chinese companies to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s technology, e-commerce, industrial supply chain and small business sectors.
Qian Xiaojun expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic potential and said the company wanted to help build a stronger digital backbone for the country’s transformation. The proposed headquarters is expected to serve as a coordination centre for digital commerce, enterprise services and access to wider Chinese markets.
The development is linked to the Pakistan-China business-to-business investment push that has gained momentum since the bilateral investment conference held in Beijing in September 2025. That conference was designed to move cooperation beyond government-level projects and create direct channels between companies, investors and exporters.
For Pakistan, the initiative could be important because small and medium enterprises often face barriers in reaching international buyers, managing digital payments, improving logistics and meeting supply chain requirements. A structured digital platform backed by Chinese industrial e-commerce expertise could help local firms find new buyers and modernise their operations.
The project also fits into Pakistan’s wider effort to attract foreign investment while reducing pressure on traditional sectors of the economy. Digital trade, industrial services and technology-enabled exports are increasingly viewed as areas where Pakistan can create jobs, increase productivity and improve its position in regional supply chains.
Several senior officials attended the meeting, including Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi. Their presence showed that the talks were being treated as both an investment matter and a broader economic policy opportunity.
The next phase will depend on how quickly the proposed headquarters moves from announcement to implementation. Pakistani authorities will need to coordinate regulatory support, investment facilitation, SME participation and digital infrastructure so that the initiative delivers practical benefits for businesses rather than remaining limited to diplomatic messaging.