Islamabad, In a strategic move to expand its reach and boost foreign exchange, Pakistan’s Information Technology (IT) sector is setting its sights on the burgeoning African market. This initiative was highlighted in a recent Zoom meeting between prominent figures in Pakistan’s and Rwanda’s IT industries, organized by the Pak-Africa Business Forum (PABF) and the High Commission of Pakistan to Rwanda.
According to the Pak-Africa Business Forum (PABF), the meeting was hosted by High Commissioner Naeem Khan and PABF’s President Omar Shahid Butt. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, and Innovation of Rwanda, Mr. Yves Iradukunda, also attended the event. Salman Dar, a former executive member of the Pakistan IT Industry Association, coordinated the meeting.
During the meeting, PABF President Omar Shahid Butt shared insights into the African IT services market, which is projected to reach $23.66 billion in 2023, with business process outsourcing leading the sector. He anticipated an annual growth rate of 14.06% in the African market, potentially reaching $45.68 billion by 2028. Butt emphasized the need for investments in broadband connectivity, secure data infrastructure, and reforms in governmental and legal frameworks to stimulate competition in Africa.
Building digital and physical connections by addressing challenges like broadband coverage gaps and digital illiteracy was highlighted as essential for enabling businesses and individuals to access larger markets and create job opportunities. The meeting underscored the importance of promoting mutually beneficial trade relations between Pakistan and African countries, with both High Commissioner Khan and Omar Butt advocating for increased Pakistani IT exports to the less regulated and comparatively accessible African market.
Salman Dar and other representatives from Pakistan’s IT sector presented the strengths of Pakistani IT products and urged for closer collaboration to explore potential synergies between the two regions. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for continued interactions and partnerships between Pakistan and African IT stakeholders.
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