Islamabad plans expanded presence at Russia’s key economic forum

Pakistan plans to send an even larger delegation to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in 2027, its ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, said, underscoring Islamabad’s intention to deepen economic engagement with Moscow.

Speaking in an interview with TASS on the sidelines of this year’s forum, Tirmizi said Pakistan already has a strong presence at SPIEF but intends to expand its participation further next year.

“Pakistan is very well represented at SPIEF this year,” the diplomat said. “But next year Pakistan will return with an even larger delegation, because we believe that both Pakistan and Russia are part of the Eurasian continent.”

He highlighted Pakistan’s strategic role in regional connectivity, describing it as a southern hub of the International North–South Transport Corridor, a project promoted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Pakistan is a bridge between the North–South corridor and China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative. So this is a very important point,” he said.

According to Tirmizi, Pakistan’s delegation at the forum is led by the chairman of the Standing Committee on Energy. He added that a number of business representatives from Pakistan and other countries are also taking part.

“We have a large delegation, but I have also met many businessmen from Pakistan, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia who are participating in this forum. This is perhaps the largest forum in this part of the world, and it is an excellent opportunity for business leaders, politicians, and intellectuals to gather on one platform and exchange views,” he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova