Historic Tech Conference Opens Doors for Pakistani Firms in Gulf Region
In a major milestone for Pakistan’s tech industry, Pakistani IT companies have officially entered the Kuwaiti market for the first time. The breakthrough came during the Pakistan-Kuwait Tech Conference 2025, a two-day event held in Kuwait and jointly organized by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), in collaboration with the Pakistani Embassy in Kuwait.
A delegation of 17 top IT exporters, including firms like 10Pearls, TPS Worldwide, Abacus Consulting, Systems Limited, and Digifloat, showcased cutting-edge solutions in AI, cloud computing, fintech, agritech, and enterprise software.
The visit marks a turning point, as strict visa policies had previously limited Pakistan’s access to Kuwait’s $22.48 billion ICT market, which is expected to grow to $39.83 billion by 2025.
Visa Reforms and Vision 2035 Open New Avenues for Digital Collaboration
Following recent relaxation in visa restrictions for Pakistani professionals, the country’s IT exporters are now eyeing Kuwait as a key market in the GCC.
PSEB CEO Abu Bakar described the conference as “the beginning of long-term collaboration in tech, trade, and investment,” highlighting Pakistan’s innovation potential.
Muhammad Zohaib Khan, CEO of A2Z Creators, called the visit “historic,” citing Kuwait’s Vision 2035 digital transformation as a major opportunity for Pakistani firms to support the Gulf nation’s economic diversification.
PASHA Senior Vice Chairman Muhammad Umair Nizam added that the entry into Kuwait mirrors Pakistan’s recent expansion into Saudi Arabia and the UAE, emphasizing the importance of tapping new and underexplored markets at a time when Pakistan’s global tech image is rising.
Kuwaiti officials, including Aseel Al-Munifi (Ministry of Economic Affairs), Dr. Khaled Al Zamel (CITRA), and Athbi Jaber Al-Sabah (CAIT), also participated in the event, signaling strong interest from Kuwait’s public and private sectors.
Currently, Kuwait’s exports to Pakistan exceed $2 billion, mainly in petroleum products, while Pakistan’s exports to Kuwait remain around $200 million. Experts believe that tech and digital services could help narrow this trade gap and create a more balanced economic partnership.
The Pakistan-Kuwait Tech Conference 2025 is being hailed as a landmark moment that has opened up fresh business opportunities for Pakistani IT companies and could serve as a model for tech diplomacy across the region.
