DFDI Forum 2025: Pakistan to Host Landmark ForumAdvancing Global Digital Investment and Policy Cooperation

Pakistan is set to host the inaugural Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Forum on April 29–30, a two-day international Forum Focused on driving digital investment and policy collaboration across emerging and established economies. The event is being organized by the Government of Pakistan in partnership with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) .

The first Forum of its kind, DFDI 2025 will bring together over 30 IT and finance ministers, 16 DCO member states, 400+ high-level delegates, and 60+ international observers to shape the future of digital investment, policy alignment, and global tech collaboration.

Key Objectives of the Forum

Pakistan’s hosting of the inaugural DFDI Forum isn’t symbolic, it’s strategic.  As a founding member of the DCO, Pakistan is driving the digital policy agenda across emerging economies and now stepping forward to help shape the global framework for digital investment. The forum focuses on five core objectives:

1. Advance Global Digital Policy Dialogue

The forum creates a high-level platform for policy alignment and regulatory innovation, with ministers and experts convening to shape frameworks that enable:

• Digital infrastructure expansion


• Faster adoption of digital tools


• Growth in digital services exports

Pakistan’s leadership role brings added weight, offering insight into how emerging economies can drive digital reform with regional impact.

2. Attract Digital FDI to High-Growth Markets

From fintech to cybersecurity, the DCO region is home to some of the world’s most promising digital sectors.DFDI 2025 will:

• Showcase investment-ready markets


• Highlight skilled talent pools


• Promote favorable policy environments


• Feature curated investment matchmaking and startup showcases 

Through curated startup showcases, investor roundtables, and one-on-one matchmaking, the forum will spotlight investment-ready opportunities supported by local talent, favorable policies, and regional market demand.

3. Foster Cross-Border Innovation and Collaboration

DFDI 2025 is designed to spark partnerships that go beyond borders.Through interactive sessions, workshops, and B2B meetings, the forum will:

• Connect DCO IT leaders with international delegates


• Enable co-creation of digital tools and infrastructure


• Support knowledge exchange across regions and sectors 

The aim: to build sustainable, cross-border innovation pipelines between governments, startups, and global investors.

4. Spotlight Investable Opportunities

With a combined $3.5 trillion GDP and a market of 800 million+ people, the DCO region represents a vast and under-tapped digital frontier.The forum will present:

• Actionable, data-backed investment prospects


• Startup ecosystems primed for scaling


• Sectoral insights across AI, cloud, and edtech


• A clear path to market entry for global capital

5. Strengthen Pakistan’s Global Digital Leadership

As the first country to pilot the DFDI framework, Pakistan isn’t just hosting, it’s leading.Through this forum and its upcoming 2026 presidency of the DCO Council, Pakistan is positioning itself as:

• A regional hub for digital investment


• A contributor to global digital policy


• A bridge between emerging economies and the international tech landscape

Its role underscores a deeper ambition: to make Pakistan not only visible on the global digital map but also indispensable.

Pakistan’s Position and Contribution

Pakistan’s role extends far beyond hosting. It is the first pilot country of the DFDI Initiative, making it the testbed for the digital FDI framework being introduced globally.Key indicators highlight Pakistan’s growing role as a digital economy:

• IT exports exceeded $2.18 billion in the first seven months of FY2024–25, showing 27% year-over-year growth 
• The country has over 140 million internet users and 73 million smartphone users 
• A youthful population (median age 20.6) and a rapidly expanding freelance and startup ecosystem 
• Ongoing digital reforms through the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, National Digital Commission, and the rollout of Pakistan Stack, a national digital infrastructure project 

Officials have emphasized that hosting DFDI 2025 reflects Pakistan’s commitment to positioning itself as a competitive destination for digital FDI and a key contributor to policy innovation in the global South.

Event Highlights and Expected Outcomes

Participants at DFDI 2025 can expect a structured program featuring:

• High-level keynotes from government leaders and global tech executives 
• Policy roundtables and regional coordination sessions 
• Startup and innovation showcases 
• Announcement of the Digital FDI Metrics Framework 
• Launch of pilot partnerships and investment projects 

According to the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the forum will result in concrete policy outcomes, investment commitments, and collaborative frameworks that will extend beyond the two-day event.

Strategic Significance

With a combined GDP of $3.5 trillion and a market size of nearly 800 million people, the DCO member states represent a growing digital bloc. DFDI 2025 is expected to elevate the DCO’s role as a global convening body for digital cooperation and set the tone for future policy development in the digital investment space.By hosting the forum, Pakistan is positioning itself not only as a beneficiary of digital transformation but also as a contributor to its global architecture.https://dco.org/governance/