The Maldives–Pakistan Business Forum 2026 has brought together 540 businesspeople in Islamabad, with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attending the high-level event aimed at strengthening economic ties and expanding investment opportunities between the two countries.
Organised by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade at the Serena Hotel, the forum was held during President Muizzu’s state visit to Pakistan, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Pakistan. The event brought together senior government officials, investors, business leaders and media representatives from both countries.
President Muizzu has been holding business forums in various countries as part of his official overseas visits, providing a platform for Maldivian and foreign businesspeople to explore investment opportunities and learn about major development projects planned by the Government. The Pakistan forum is part of this broader initiative to attract foreign investment and strengthen international business partnerships.
The forum comes as the two countries take steps to deepen bilateral cooperation. During President Muizzu’s current visit, the Maldives and Pakistan have signed 20 agreements covering several areas, including trade and economic cooperation, tourism, agriculture, information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship. Agreements have also been reached to strengthen fisheries cooperation and expand air connectivity between the two countries.
Following the exchange of agreements, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said both countries would work towards increasing bilateral trade to more than USD 200 million within the next two years. Trade between the Maldives and Pakistan currently stands at USD 13.9 million.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has also expressed his commitment to strengthening economic relations between the two countries during a meeting with President Muizzu.
Addressing the business forum, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed underscored the importance of establishing direct links between businesses and building sustainable partnerships. The forum also featured presentations by Invest Maldives on the country’s economic environment and investment opportunities, alongside presentations from the tourism, fisheries and agriculture sectors.
The Bank of Maldives also shared information on opportunities to enhance cooperation in financial services. The forum concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry to strengthen cooperation between the two sides.
Minister Saeed has previously said that overseas business forums are delivering tangible results, noting that the current administration attracted 108 foreign investments to the Maldives in approximately one year. He attributed this progress, in part, to the investment promotion initiatives conducted abroad.
The administration has so far organised business forums in six countries: China, the United Arab Emirates, India, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In India, the forums were held in three different cities.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, these initiatives have increased inquiries from parties interested in investing in the Maldives, alongside growth in the number of registered investments.
The participation of 540 businesspeople at the Pakistan forum marks a significant opportunity to build on the longstanding relationship between the two countries and translate growing diplomatic cooperation into stronger trade, investment and private-sector partnerships.
