KARACHI: Atif Ikram Sheikh, president of the FPCCI, will lead a high-profile business delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia, from April 14-16, 2026, to participate in the D-8 Business Conference and the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia 2026, scheduled to be held from April 14 to 18.
Sheikh said the events are being organised on the sidelines of the forthcoming summit of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, which comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan. The conference is expected to attract senior government officials, leading chambers of commerce, investors and entrepreneurs, as well as manufacturers, importers, distributors and major buyers from across D-8 member countries.
The FPCCI president noted that the D-8 region represents a market of more than one billion people with significant economic potential. Intra D-8 trade has grown substantially in recent years and currently stands at more than $140 billion, reflecting increasing economic cooperation among member states.
He added that Pakistan’s trade with D-8 countries is also expanding, offering considerable potential for further growth through enhanced business engagement and trade facilitation.
Sheikh said the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia 2026 will provide an important platform for companies operating in sectors such as halal food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, cosmetics and personal care, meat and agro-based products, Islamic finance and services, and packaging and allied industries.
The FPCCI chief said a large number of delegates from D-8 member countries are expected to participate in the conference and expo. The event will offer Pakistani businesses an opportunity to explore new markets, establish B2B linkages, identify joint ventures and enhance Pakistan’s exports within the D-8 region.
He added that the FPCCI delegation is being organised with the cooperation and support of the commercial section of the Embassy of Pakistan in Jakarta. The FPCCI has invited nominations from its member trade bodies, business councils with D-8 countries and leading exporters across Pakistan to join the delegation. Participation in the delegation will be on a self-financing basis, and the last date for submission of applications is March 30, 2026.
