ISLAMABAD: Entrepreneurs from Pakistan and Turkey came together over the weekend to network in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul to work toward the “prosperity” of the two countries.
“Entrepreneurship allows people to think beyond government to create opportunities of employment thus the prosperity of a country,” said Waqar Badshah, an academic from Pakistan, who addressed a boot camp of entrepreneurs at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (IZU).
A group of Pakistan’s entrepreneurs, mostly from the IT sector, have been camping in Turkey for one week and building networks and relations “to help progress the bilateral trade and business relations of the two countries,” said Saad Allahwala, who lead the delegation.
While Nasuh Uslu, IZU vice rector, urged the entrepreneurs to work toward enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries, Economics professor Mehmet Bulut said the Zaim Tech Park, which opened last year, was open to entrepreneurs from the two countries to start businesses.
Bulut said the young businessmen “should focus on new technologies” to develop the economies.
The IZU also hosted a tech summit of Pakistani entrepreneurs last year.
Allahwala told Anadolu Agency that during the current trip “Pakistani entrepreneurs individually met Turkish companies and individuals for networking and building relations.”
“The digital boom has eroded barriers between owner, company and customer and our two countries should take benefit of such an opportunity,” he said.
“One can earn money sitting in Pakistan from anywhere in the world and it is possible because of the boom in the IT sector which has allowed people to earn money and invest in their localities in different developmental projects,” said Allahwala, who is the Karachi chapter director of Startup Grind.
“We are here to invite Turkish companies to Pakistan,” he said. “We are a very welcoming nation.”
Talha Akbas, international relations chairman of Young MUSIAD (Turkish business association) Turkey, said: “Young MUSIAD is working with Pakistani counterparts to build relations in different sectors to boost and strengthen our trade.”
