KARACHI: VEON Ltd and Nutshell Group have entered into a strategic partnership to establish The Global Connect, an international platform designed to promote cross border investment, digital transformation and sustained economic cooperation across emerging markets. The agreement was signed in Dubai on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit, with participation from JazzWorld, reflecting a coordinated effort to position frontier economies as attractive destinations for global capital and innovation driven growth.
The initiative aims to convene policymakers, institutional investors, corporate leaders and academic stakeholders on a single platform to facilitate structured dialogue and unlock investment opportunities. By creating a recurring forum for engagement, The Global Connect is expected to serve as a bridge between capital rich markets and high potential emerging economies seeking technology partnerships and financial inflows. Officials say the platform will focus on practical collaboration frameworks that support trade expansion, digital adoption and long term economic alignment rather than one off engagements.
Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani welcomed the development, noting that such partnerships signal improving investor sentiment and align with Pakistan’s broader strategy to position itself as a hub for international capital and innovation led development. He emphasized that enhanced connectivity between global investors and domestic opportunities can strengthen economic resilience while accelerating digital modernization. Founder of Nutshell Group Muhammad Azfar Ahsan said the objective of The Global Connect is to link global capital and advanced technology with credible, investment ready projects in emerging economies, particularly Pakistan, through sustained institutional partnerships.
VEON Group Chief Executive Kaan Terzioglu reaffirmed the company’s long term commitment to high potential markets, underscoring the role of digital platforms in promoting financial inclusion and expanding economic participation. According to the statement, the inaugural meeting of The Global Connect is scheduled to take place in Islamabad in May 2026 and is expected to bring together representatives from more than 25 countries to advance cooperation in investment, trade and sustainable development. Organizers indicate that the forum will serve as an ongoing mechanism to align policy, capital and technology in support of emerging market growth trajectories.
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