FPCCI and ICCD to host major AgriTech conference

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) are set to host an international conference titled ‘AgriTech: Feeding the Future’, under the Best of Entrepreneurship Asia Series. The event will take place on August 28 at the Expo Centre in Karachi.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is backing the conference through its Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain, and ITCN Asia will also provide support. The event’s primary sponsors include Al Baraka Bank and Unity Foods, as noted in a statement from the FPCCI.

Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, acting president of the FPCCI, said that the conference aims to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional trade and investment in key sectors for Pakistan’s economy, including sustainable agriculture, tourism development, and digital economy investments.

Magoon explained that the first segment of the conference will address food security and agricultural development, highlighting how emerging technologies could revolutionize Pakistan’s agriculture sector.

He noted that food security is a significant challenge for many developing nations, particularly Islamic countries, due to factors such as income inequality, economic instability, climate change, conflicts, and unemployment.

He pointed out that while global food production is adequate, issues like inaccessibility, unaffordability, instability, and inefficient resource utilization persist. Improvements are needed in areas such as supply chain management, post-harvest handling, storage, and logistics.

The FPCCI and ICCD are dedicated to making significant contributions towards achieving these objectives, Magoon added. The joint FPCCI and ICCD conference will attract a diverse range of attendees, including national and international stakeholders, diplomats, academics, leading business figures, agricultural financial institutions, and government representatives. High-profile delegations from countries such as the UAE, Thailand, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Morocco are expected to participate.

The conference will also feature B2B matchmaking sessions designed to provide a platform for Pakistan’s private sector to explore investment opportunities, trade facilitation, and joint ventures with these nations. The Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) will also be in attendance.