Turkiye eyes stronger trade, new JVs
The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) hosted its International Excellence Awards 2026 in Istanbul, bringing together senior Turkish government officials, diplomats, leading Pakistani and Turkish business figures and representatives of the business community to celebrate Pakistan's entrepreneurial excellence and forge stronger economic ties between the two countries.
Around 40 awards were presented to Pakistani business leaders from diverse sectors in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the national economy, said a press release issued on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, Istanbul Deputy Governor Mehmet Sulun said such initiatives provided an effective platform for strengthening people-to-people and business-to-business contacts and could open new avenues for trade, investment and joint ventures between Pakistan and Turkiye.
He remarked that business leaders were not merely conducting trade but were also building bridges of friendship and understanding. He expressed hope that the friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye would continue to grow stronger and last for generations.
Consul General of Pakistan in Istanbul Khawaja Khurram Naeem emphasised that stronger business-to-business linkages were vital to translate the political and fraternal relations into greater trade and investment. He assured the Pakistani business community of the embassy's continued support for promoting commercial cooperation between the two countries.
In his inaugural address, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood highlighted the deep-rooted brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkiye and reaffirmed the determination to take bilateral trade and investment to the ambitious levels envisioned by the leadership of the two countries.
He stressed that the ICCI was positioning itself as a global business bridge for Pakistan by promoting exports, investment and international partnerships, while working closely with the government of Pakistan and relevant institutions to improve the ease of doing business and create a more competitive environment for the private sector.
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Member Munir Ustun appreciated the efforts to deepen economic and business relations and underscored the importance of stronger institutional and private-sector linkages. He said regular business exchanges, B2B engagements and joint initiatives could unlock the considerable untapped potential for bilateral trade and investment.
Faisal Town Group Director Zohair Majeed said the recognition of Pakistani business leaders on an international platform was a strong message that Pakistan's private sector possessed the talent, resilience and entrepreneurial capacity to compete successfully in global markets. He noted that stronger Pakistan-Turkiye business partnerships could generate new opportunities for investment, technology transfer, exports and sustainable economic growth.
At another event, an ICCI delegation joined Turkish business leaders in Istanbul to celebrate Pakistan's 79th Independence Day. The two sides reaffirmed the enduring bonds of friendship, brotherhood and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye.
Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Tahir Mehmood said the freedom enjoyed by Pakistan was achieved through the immense sacrifices of the nation's forefathers, making it the responsibility of every citizen to contribute to the country's progress and prosperity. He said that Pakistan and Turkiye were bound by deep-rooted historical, cultural and fraternal ties, adding that the relationship "now needs to be translated into a stronger and more dynamic economic partnership".
He pointed out that greater engagement between the private sectors of both countries could unlock substantial opportunities in trade, investment and joint ventures. Mehmood said the chamber would continue providing platforms for entrepreneurs and investors from both countries to explore new markets, develop partnerships and convert mutual goodwill into tangible economic opportunities.
The Turkish business counterparts reaffirmed that the deep-rooted bonds of brotherhood between Turkiye and Pakistan would continue to grow stronger, particularly through enhanced trade, investment and business-to-business cooperation.
Earlier, the Business Opportunity Conference in Istanbul brought together leading Pakistani and Turkish business figures from diverse sectors to explore new avenues of trade, investment, joint ventures and business-to-business partnerships. Pakistan Consul General in Istanbul Khawaja Khurram Naeem actively engaged with Turkish participants, responding to their questions and highlighting Pakistan's growing trade and investment potential as well as the improving business and investment environment.
A large number of prominent Turkish enterprises participated in the conference and showed keen interest in exploring investment and commercial opportunities in Pakistan. During an interactive session, the ICCI president, former ICCI presidents Aamir Waheed Sheikh, Mohammad Ejaz Abbasi and Dr Adeel Sami, Founder and President of the Pakistan-Turkiye Investment & Development Council, responded to queries from Turkish business leaders and discussed practical avenues for cooperation.