Pakistan PM to attend Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Oct. 29-30

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the 8th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Oct. 29-30, the Pakistani foreign office said on Monday, adding that the Pakistan premier is also expected to meet the Saudi Crown Prince during the visit.
The FII serves as an important platform for countries to showcase their economic strength, draw foreign investments, and engage in dialogue to shape a sustainable future.
This year’s FII, themed as ‘Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow,’ will focus on global investments in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, education, energy, space, finance, health care and sustainability.
During the visit, PM Sharif is expected to hold important bilateral talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other senior Saudi officials, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“The two sides will discuss economic and strategic partnership between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and explore bilateral cooperation in the economic, energy, and defense domains,” it said in a statement.
“The prime minister is also expected to engage with participating leaders and entrepreneurs at the FII 8th edition conference.”
In April this year, Sharif had met the Saudi Crown Prince on the sidelines of a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh. The two figures had discussed bilateral ties and regional issues, including Israel’s war on Gaza, according to Sharif’s office.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and cultural ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top source of remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian country.
Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also been closely working to increase bilateral trade and investment deals, and the Kingdom this year reaffirmed its commitment to expedite an investment package worth $5 billion.