Pakistan Takes Its Investment Pitch to Geneva as World Investment Conference Opens

Pakistan is taking its case for foreign investment to one of the world’s biggest stages for it this week. Federal Minister for the Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh has travelled to Geneva to represent Pakistan at the 30th World Investment Conference (WIC 2026), which opens on Tuesday, 10 November, and runs until 12 November.

The conference is organised by the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), the global body that brings together the government agencies whose job is to attract foreign companies into their countries. For Pakistan, the timing could hardly be more important. Foreign direct investment into the country fell by a third in the last financial year, and almost nine out of every ten dollars that did arrive came from just three places.

Sheikh will speak at the conference as an official representative of Pakistan, and he will spend the three days in meetings with ministerial counterparts, global investment leaders and senior corporate executives. His message, according to the Board of Investment, is simple: Pakistan is open for business, reforms are under way, and there are opportunities worth looking at in some of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.

What is the World Investment Conference?

The World Investment Conference is the annual gathering of the world’s investment promotion agencies. It is where the people who sell countries to investors compare notes, hear from companies about what they look for, and try to strike deals.

This year’s event is the 30th edition, and it takes place in Geneva, Switzerland — a city that hosts many of the world’s trade and investment institutions. The conference brings together ministers, the heads of investment agencies, and executives from multinational companies.

For a country like Pakistan, the value of being there is not just the speeches. It is the meetings on the sidelines — the bilateral talks with other ministers and the one-to-one conversations with corporate leaders who decide where their companies build factories, open offices and put their money.

Sheikh is attending as an official speaker, which gives Pakistan a platform to make its pitch in front of the whole room, not just in private meetings. The Board of Investment says he will highlight Pakistan’s investment potential, its ongoing economic reforms, and the incentives it offers to international businesses.

Why Pakistan needs investment now

The numbers behind Pakistan’s trip to Geneva explain why the government is pushing so hard.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, net foreign direct investment (FDI) into Pakistan was just $1.637 billion in the financial year 2025–26. That is a fall of 34% from $2.477 billion the year before. Gross inflows were $3.568 billion, but $1.931 billion flowed back out, leaving the net figure at its weakest in years.

To put that in perspective, Pakistan’s net FDI is now worth only about 0.4% of the size of its economy. That is roughly the same as Bangladesh, but far below Egypt at 4.2%, Malaysia at 4.6%, Thailand at 3.3% and Indonesia at 1.5%. Pakistan’s FDI has stayed below 1% of GDP since 2010, according to World Bank data.

The problem is not only the size of the number. It is also where the money comes from. In 2025–26, China supplied $862 million of Pakistan’s net FDI — more than half of the total, at 52.7%. Hong Kong was next with $339.4 million, and the United Arab Emirates contributed $235.9 million. Together, those three accounted for almost 88% of all the foreign direct investment Pakistan received. The entire rest of the world contributed less than 10%.

That concentration is a risk. When Chinese investment fell by 28.5% last year, from about $1.20 billion to $862 million, Pakistan’s total fell with it. Hong Kong’s investment dropped by 27.8% and the UAE’s by 19.8%. A country that depends on so few sources is exposed when any one of them pulls back.

The money that does arrive is also concentrated in a small number of sectors. The power sector attracted $958.3 million in 2025–26, about 58.5% of all net FDI, although that was down from $1.178 billion the year before. Financial services took in $805.5 million, up from $702.6 million. Meanwhile, foreign investors pulled money out of the communications sector, with a net outflow of $456 million.

This is the backdrop to the Geneva trip. Pakistan is not just looking for more money. It is looking for money from more countries, in more sectors, so that its investment base is wider and steadier.

The sectors Pakistan is selling

Sheikh has named the sectors Pakistan will be promoting in Geneva: information technology, renewable energy, agriculture, mineral exploration and industrial manufacturing.

Each of these has a story behind it.

Information technology is one of Pakistan’s brightest spots. The country’s IT exports have grown steadily, and its young, English-speaking workforce is a selling point for companies looking for software developers and back-office services. The minister has also spoken about artificial intelligence and advanced technology as areas where Pakistan wants to attract partners.

Renewable energy fits a country that spends heavily on imported fuel. Pakistan has abundant sunshine and wind, and solar power in particular has grown fast as businesses and households look for cheaper electricity. Foreign investors in solar, wind and hydropower can tap into a market where demand for power keeps rising.

Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, employing a large share of the workforce. The pitch here is about food processing, modern farming methods and value-added products — turning raw crops into packaged goods that can be sold abroad at higher prices.

Mineral exploration is a newer frontier. Pakistan has large reserves of minerals, including copper and gold, and the government has been trying to attract serious mining companies to develop them. This is a long game — mines take years to build — but the potential rewards are large.

Industrial manufacturing covers everything from textiles, Pakistan’s traditional export strength, to newer areas such as auto parts and electronics. The government has recently announced a new auto policy for 2026–31, with cheaper cars, tax cuts for electric vehicles and a $6 billion export target for the sector.

The minister has also pointed to halal products and food processing as areas with room to grow, particularly for investors from Muslim-majority countries looking for halal-certified goods.

There are some encouraging signs

The Geneva pitch does not start from zero. There have been some positive developments in recent months that Sheikh can point to.

The most recent figures show a small recovery. Net FDI in July and August 2026 — the first two months of the current financial year — was $494.5 million, up 24% from $398.6 million in the same period a year earlier. August alone brought in $315.9 million, the highest monthly figure in two years, according to State Bank data.

Pakistan’s broader economic picture has also steadied. The State Bank’s foreign exchange reserves had risen to about $21.4 billion by mid-September, and the ratings agency S&P upgraded Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating to B in July. That does not make Pakistan a safe bet overnight, but it does make it easier for investors to take the country seriously.

There is also movement on the legal side. Pakistan and Canada concluded the third round of talks on a bilateral investment treaty in Islamabad in October, and the first round of similar treaty talks with Sweden is expected in November. These treaties matter because they give foreign investors legal protection — a promise that their money will be treated fairly and that disputes will be handled by agreed rules.

Trade partnerships are moving too. In October, Pakistan and Malaysia agreed on a roadmap to raise their bilateral trade from $1.5 billion to $5 billion, with joint ventures in IT, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, mining, agriculture and halal products. And just this week, Saudi and Pakistani investors launched a joint private equity fund, with 75% of the money earmarked for Pakistan.

All of this gives Sheikh something to talk about in Geneva beyond promises. The question is whether it is enough to turn meetings into money.

The hard questions

No honest account of Pakistan’s investment pitch can ignore the difficulties.

First, the reforms that investors want to hear about are still a work in progress. The government has talked about making it easier to do business — cutting red tape, simplifying approvals and removing unnecessary rules. But businesses in Pakistan still complain about slow bureaucracy, unpredictable regulation and the cost of energy.

There has also been a change at the top of the reform effort itself. In October, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif removed Sheikh as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Reforms and appointed Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan to lead it instead. The committee is the body that reviews and approves changes to the rules that affect businesses. Sheikh remains the investment minister, but the reshuffle raises questions about who is driving the reform agenda.

Second, Pakistan’s investment problem is partly about perception. Investors remember the years of economic crisis, the IMF programmes, the power shortages and the political instability. Rebuilding trust takes time, and a good speech in Geneva does not undo it in a day.

Third, the competition is fierce. Every country at the World Investment Conference is making a similar pitch. Vietnam, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and many others are all chasing the same pool of investors, and many of them can offer cheaper labour, better infrastructure or more stable politics.

Finally, there is the question of follow-through. Conferences produce handshakes and photographs. What matters is what happens afterwards — whether the meetings turn into signed deals, and whether the deals turn into factories, jobs and exports. Pakistan has announced investment pledges before that never became real projects.

What happens next

The conference runs until Thursday, 12 November. Over the three days, Sheikh will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and with corporate executives. The Board of Investment is expected to report on the outcome when he returns.

What to watch for is not the number of meetings, but what comes out of them. A memorandum of understanding is a start, but it is not a deal. Real progress would look like named companies committing to specific projects, with timelines and amounts attached.

The next hard data will come from the State Bank, which publishes monthly FDI figures. If the improvement seen in July and August continues through the autumn, that would suggest the recovery is real. If it fades, the Geneva trip will look like another round of promises.

For now, Pakistan is making its case in the right room, to the right audience, at a moment when it badly needs the money. Whether the world listens is the question the next few months will answer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the World Investment Conference 2026?

It is the 30th edition of the annual conference organised by the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA). It takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 10 to 12 November 2026, and brings together investment ministers, promotion agencies and corporate executives from around the world.

Who is representing Pakistan?

Federal Minister for the Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh. He is attending as an official speaker and will hold bilateral meetings with ministerial counterparts, global investment leaders and senior corporate executives.

How much foreign investment does Pakistan receive?

Net foreign direct investment was $1.637 billion in the financial year 2025–26, down 34% from $2.477 billion the year before, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. That is only about 0.4% of GDP.

Where does Pakistan’s foreign investment come from?

Mostly from three places. In 2025–26, China supplied $862 million (52.7% of the total), Hong Kong $339.4 million and the UAE $235.9 million. Together they accounted for almost 88% of net FDI.

Which sectors is Pakistan promoting?

Information technology, renewable energy, agriculture, mineral exploration and industrial manufacturing. The government has also highlighted artificial intelligence, food processing and halal products.

Is investment recovering?

There are early signs. Net FDI in July and August 2026 was $494.5 million, up 24% on the same period a year earlier, and August’s $315.9 million was the highest monthly figure in two years. But two months do not make a trend, and the full-year figure for 2025–26 was weak.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s trip to Geneva is a straightforward pitch: a large, young country with growing IT exports, mineral wealth, farmland and a strategic location is asking the world’s investors to take a closer look. The case is real, and the recent stabilisation of the economy gives it more weight than it had a few years ago.

But the numbers also show how far Pakistan has to go. Foreign investment fell by a third last year, it comes from very few countries, and it is worth only a fraction of what comparable countries attract. A successful conference would widen that base — new countries, new sectors, new companies putting money into Pakistan.

The World Investment Conference is a beginning, not an end. The meetings in Geneva matter, but what matters more is what follows: signed deals, built factories and money that actually arrives. Pakistan will be judged not on its pitch, but on its results.

Sources

• The Express Tribune (APP), “Pakistan to invite investment at WIC 2026”, 10 November 2026: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2639490/pakistan-to-invite-investment-at-wic-2026
• UrduPoint (APP), “Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh To Represent Pakistan At World Investment Conference In Geneva”, 9 November 2026: https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/qaiser-sheikh-departs-for-geneva-to-attend-30-2286376.html
• The News, “FDI drops 34pc to $1.64bn in FY26”, 18 July 2026: https://www.thenews.pk/print/1426611-fdi-drops-34pc-to-1-64bn-in-fy26
• Business Recorder, “FDI recovery remains elusive”, 21 July 2026: https://www.brecorder.com/news/40430984
• The Nation, “China accounts for over half of Pakistan’s net FDI in previous FY”, 20 July 2026: https://www.nation.com.pk/20-Jul-2026/china-accounts-half-pakistan-s-net-fdi-previous-fy
• Economic Outlook, “Pakistan’s Recovery Needs More Than Economic Stability”: https://economicoutlook.pk/pakistans-recovery-needs-more-than-economic-stability/
• Mettis Global, “The Dollar Test: Why Pakistan Needs Joint Ventures”, 15 October 2026: https://mettisglobal.news/The-Dollar-Test-Why-Pakistan-Needs-Joint-Ventures-64223
• Dawn, “Roadmap set to boost trade with Malaysia”, 17 October 2026: https://www.dawn.com/news/2037723/roadmap-set-to-boost-trade-with-malaysia
• ARY News, “Pakistan and Canada conclude third round of investment treaty talks”, 24 October 2026: https://arynews.tv/pakistan-and-canada-conclude-third-round-of-investment-treaty-talks
• The Nation, “Pakistan, Sweden explore enhanced investment cooperation”, 9 October 2026: https://www.nation.com.pk/09-Oct-2026/pakistan-sweden-explore-enhanced-investment-cooperation
• Profit by Pakistan Today, “PM removes Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh from regulatory reforms panel”, 23 October 2026: https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/10/23/pm-removes-qaiser-ahmed-sheikh-from-regulatory-reforms-committee

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.