The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) announced on Saturday that Pakistan’s business community will assume the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Business Council in 2027. The announcement followed the FPCCI president’s attendance at the SCO Business Council board meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, earlier this week.
SCO Business Council Role
The SCO Business Council serves as the private-sector arm of the 10-member Eurasian political, economic, and security bloc. It brings together national chambers of commerce and business leaders to promote trade, investment, and commercial cooperation among member states. Pakistan became a full SCO member in 2017, alongside India, joining a grouping that also includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.
Confidence in Pakistan
“The forthcoming chairmanship reflects the confidence of SCO member states in Pakistan’s constructive role within the organization and presents an important opportunity for the country’s business community to contribute to shaping the Council’s future agenda,” the FPCCI said in a statement. The federation noted that its delegation also participated in the SCO Business and Investment Forum and business-to-business meetings, holding bilateral discussions with representatives from member states on trade, investment, technology transfer, and industrial cooperation.
Strategic Location Highlighted
The statement said the delegation highlighted Pakistan’s strategic location linking South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It called for greater regional connectivity, cross-border trade, and private-sector collaboration in sectors including energy, information technology, logistics, and infrastructure.
Background of SCO and Business Council
The SCO was established in 2001, initially focusing on regional security before expanding its agenda to include trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation. The Business Council, created in 2006, serves as the SCO’s institutional mechanism for strengthening private-sector collaboration and facilitating commercial partnerships among member states. Pakistan has increasingly used the SCO platform to deepen economic engagement with Central Asia and other member states, viewing regional connectivity, trade, and investment as key pillars of its broader economic diplomacy.
