PAKISTAN HOSTED its first Nordic IT Summit in Stockholm, organized by Pakistan Sweden Business Council along with Embassy of Pakistan at Stockholm, Sweden. Various companies of Pakistan and IT organizations from Nordic Region participated in the Summit to increase and accelerate bilateral IT trade.

Nordic Pakistan IT Summit is an integrated opportunity for IT communities of both Pakistan and Nordic Region to convert their intellectual knowledge and expertise into business through exchange of ideas and networking. Industry experts and executives discussed the efficient cooperation and prospects of partnership to explore innovative talent, technology development capacity, startup ecosystem and market needs of both regions.

Parvez Abbasi, Project Director, National Incubation Centre Islamabad while talking at panel discussion “Innovation and startup Eco-system in Sweden and Pakistan” shared his views on Pakistan’s IT landscape said, “The summit is a platform to facilitate the entire process of connecting investors and IT startups, networking and driving opportunities. It allows seasoned technology professionals to network with their peers, whilst hearing from global leaders on subjects that are shaping the future”.

The objective behind the summit is to connect and engage companies from both countries and deliver a platform for negotiation and to exchange knowledge. The speakers shared motivating insights and experiences working in both countries, with panel discussion, start-ups environments, cultural intelligence, working in distant teams, and IT landscapes.

“Nordic region is a common economic area that Pakistani companies should really look closely: simultaneously Pakistan is a huge and developing market where we can help Nordic companies to find new business and right partners”, said Wille Eerola, Chairman, Nordic Pakistan Business Summit.

Key ingredients of innovation in both regions and possibilities of mutual cooperation was discussed by panelists as well unities were shared among the participants.

The two countries Pakistan and Sweden in the IT industry have mutual interests in term of entrepreneurship, start-ups and digitalizing solutions across other sectors, particularly Health which was sensible focus for organization under the Summit such as Microsoft and Interactive Health Solutions.

The first panel discussion “Innovation and Startup Ecosystem in Sweden and Pakistan” conducted by Peder Rotkrich, Founder of Eyeoda & Mentor at Founder’s Institute. The panelists included Daniel Sonesson (CEO SUP46), Helena Mischel (Account Executive, Microsoft), Parvez Abbasi (Project Director, National Incubation Centre) and Ali Habib (CEO, Interactive Health Solutions).

The panelist highlighted that there are necessary networks that we must recognize and act upon. Pakistan has more than 100 million people below the age of 30. That fact in itself should grab the dire attention of business community looking for young talent. Where in Sweden, locating young talent is a considerable challenge that many organizations, specifically within the IT sector face, while Sweden is ordered second position in the Top Ten Start-ups hubs.

The second-panel discussion was titled “Advantages and Challenges of Remote Teams”, moderated by Tejpal Singh, Founder of Look8 and StreetKäk. The panelists included Ingela Guldstrand (Head of IT Frontline and Analytics, Telenor, Mattias Engblom (CTO, Teleopti, Syed Ahmed (CEO DPLIT Islamabad) and Mehmood Ziauddin (CEO, Digital Dividend). The panel discussed confronting various challenges that they are currently facing and shared their possible solutions.

The Nordic Region is a relatively untapped market especially when it comes to Pakistani IT Industry. Stockholm is referred as the Tech Super Star from the north and always stood in top 10 startup cities. The organizations like Skype, Spotify, Klarna, Telenor Sweden, SUP46 and Teleopti Sweden are few names to make Sweden as the next Silicon Valley.

The opinions of global south, especially Pakistan, needs to be changed; was a common theme voiced from speakers working in both countries. Pakistan with huge potential to provide active and quality solutions for organization viewing for innovation, talent, and as well great opportunities for bilateral trade and business collaborations.