Key Points
- Pakistan to assume chairmanship of the SCO Business Council in 2027.
- FPCCI to lead private-sector cooperation among SCO member states.
- The move reinforces Pakistan’s expanding role in regional economic diplomacy.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will assume the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Business Council in 2027, according to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The SCO’s assignment would give the country’s private sector a leading role in one of the world’s largest regional economic groupings, and provide an opportunity to strengthen trade, investment and business cooperation across Eurasia.
The announcement was made during the SCO Business Council Board Meeting held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where Pakistan was represented by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
The council serves as the SCO’s principal platform for business-to-business engagement, bringing together national chambers of commerce and industry from member states to promote investment, trade, and commercial partnerships and facilitation.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, who currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the SCO Business Council, led the Pakistani delegation comprising senior business leaders and industrialists.
He described the upcoming chairmanship as an important opportunity for Pakistan to contribute to regional economic integration and deepen commercial ties with fellow SCO members.
During the meeting, Pakistan highlighted its strategic geographic location linking South Asia, Central Asia, China and the Middle East, describing the country as a natural trade and logistics corridor for regional commerce.
The delegation also invited businesses from SCO member states to explore investment opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture, information technology, energy, mining, logistics and infrastructure.
Pakistan further called for stronger collaboration in cross-border trade, industrial partnerships, digital connectivity and transport infrastructure to unlock the region’s economic potential.
It stressed that greater private-sector engagement would complement government-led initiatives to improve regional connectivity.
Economic platform within the SCO
The SCO Business Council was established in 2006 to strengthen economic cooperation among the organisation’s member states by encouraging direct engagement between businesses, investors and chambers of commerce.
It works alongside the SCO Interbank Consortium to facilitate investment projects, improve the business environment and support cross-border commercial initiatives.
The Business Council has emerged as a key forum for identifying investment opportunities, removing barriers to trade and promoting partnerships in sectors including transport, energy, technology, agriculture and manufacturing.
Pakistan’s growing role in the SCO
Pakistan became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2017 after participating for several years as an observer.
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Its accession marked a significant step in the country’s efforts to diversify its regional economic and diplomatic partnerships beyond South Asia.
The SCO today comprises China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus.
Collectively, the bloc represents around 40 per cent of the world’s population and accounts for a substantial share of global economic output, making it one of the largest regional organisations by geographic coverage and population.
For Pakistan, membership provides access to emerging markets across Central Asia and Eurasia, and strengthens dialogue with major regional economies.
Islamabad has consistently advocated greater regional integration through infrastructure development, customs cooperation and simplified trade procedures.
The country’s strategic location also aligns with the SCO’s broader objective of enhancing connectivity between East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East, giving Pakistan an important role in facilitating regional commerce.
Pakistan’s assumption of the SCO Business Council chairmanship in 2027 comes as the country seeks to attract foreign investment, increase exports and position itself as a regional hub for trade, logistics and industrial cooperation.
The leadership role is expected to provide Pakistani businesses with greater visibility among regional investors and create new opportunities for joint ventures and commercial partnerships across the SCO region.
