ISLAMABAD: Pakistani tech companies discovered “promising leads” at the recently concluded Web Summit in Qatar’s capital Doha which would lead to an increase in business collaboration between entrepreneurs in the two countries, the head of a local software association said this week. 

Entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from around the world converged in central Doha this week to participate in the four-day-long Web Summit 2024. The conference, which kicked off on Monday and concluded on Thursday, saw participants establish new connections, share insights, and secure funds for their organizations.

Over 100 Pakistani delegates attended what was one of the world’s biggest tech conferences in Doha to showcase the country’s tech potential and interact with their global counterparts, sharing best practices and cutting-edge ideas.

“Several Pakistanis participated in startup rounds, where many found promising leads which will now materialize after further discussions and providing project papers and other details,” Muhammad Zohaib Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) told Arab News on Thursday.

Khan, who attended the conference in Doha, said some Pakistani delegates extended their stay in the Gulf country to further discuss and work on the leads they had found during the event.

“Around four Pakistani companies have registered in Qatar during these days to seize business opportunities,” Khan said, adding it was necessary for a company to register itself in the Gulf country to secure projects there. 

He said 25 Pakistani companies participated in the event under P@SHA’s umbrella.

Khan said this was the second time in three months that Pakistani companies had participated in an event in Qatar for business-to-business (B2B) transactions. He said P@SHA would organize a conference in November to capitalize on further opportunities in the Gulf region, especially in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar.

“In these conferences, IT companies acquire leads which later mature after further negotiations and document exchanges,” Khan explained. He said Qatari companies and investors have recognized Pakistani companies’ potential, adding that business collaborations were expected to increase in the future.

“Qatari companies and investors have shown considerable interest in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and Fintech,” the P@SHA chairman said. 

He said P@SHA had collaborated with Pakistan’s IT and foreign affairs ministries for the conference. It also collaborated with Pakistan’s top investment body, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and Pakistan’s embassy in Qatar for the Web Summit.