Azerbaijan Pakistan Technology Forum Baku 2022
On September 29, the first Azerbaijan–Pakistan Technology Forum was organized by the Rəqəmsal İnkişaf və Nəqliyyat Nazirliyi with support from the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AzPromo), the Pakistan Embassy Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Embassy in Pakistan and the Pakistan–Azerbaijan Economic Cooperation Chamber (PAKAZCHAM) and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB).
Thirty -five ICT sector entrepreneurs leading their companies participated in the forum with varying services and products like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Augmented Reality, Cryptocurrency, Internet of Things, Revenue Assurance, Value Added Services, Core Banking and Loan Management Systems, software development, ERP Solutions, cloud computing and Mobile applications development etc. The forum was attended by a large number of ICT sector companies of Azerbaijan including but not limited to financial, telecom, education, healthcare, insurance, real estate, oil and gas sectors.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Azerbaijan Mr. Bilal Hayee, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA) Mr. Orkhan Mammadov, AZPROMO head Mr. Yusif Abdullayev, PAKAZCHAM president – Mr. Khurram Javaid Bhatti and Chief Commercial Officer of Pakistan Software Export Board Mr. Zeeshan Rehman Khattak took part in the forum.
Speakers from Republic of Azerbaijan explained the enabling environment including existence of free zones and opportunities available in different sectors for the guests participating from Pakistan. The hosts expressed their keenness towards procurement of service and products which can address the needs of the business community in the host country.
Representative from Pakistan explained the global footprint of Pakistani ICT sector, capabilities existing in the wake of youth bulge in Pakistan. It was emphasized that Pakistan has more than 300,000 English speaking IT professionals with expertise in current and emerging IT products and technologies and 13 Software technology parks. More than 20,000 IT graduates and engineers are being produced each year coupled with a growing startup culture. In accordance with Pakistan Vision 2025, the ICT industry size is targeted to reach $20 billion by 2025.
This was followed by a selected number of presentations by the Pakistani companies in the areas of financial, insurance, telecom, healthcare, hospitality and real estate sectors.
The speech session was culminated into B-2-B meetings, where delegates from Pakistan presented their product and service portfolio to the Azeri businessmen.
Azerbaijan-Pakistan Technology Forum led to numerous opportunities which private sector from both sides with the support of Government of Azerbaijan will explore in the aforementioned areas.
Baku, Azerbaijan
29 September 2022