LOS ANGELES - A select group of American entrepreneurs and industry leaders from California’s dynamic AgriTech, FinTech, and entertainment industry hosted Rizwan Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, for a business luncheon in Los Angeles. He was joined by Consul General Asim Ali Khan. The informal yet focused gathering served as a platform to exchange insights on innovation, investment opportunities, and cross-border collaboration under Pakistan’s evolving economic transformation framework.
The participants represented a diverse range of high-growth companies, including emerging technology firms, creative production houses, and venture-backed agri-innovation startups based across Southern California. Discussions revolved around mutual areas of interest, including data-driven agriculture, digital payments, streaming content partnerships, and regulatory facilitation for bilateral ventures. Ambassador Sheikh, while thanking the hosts for their initiative, highlighted Pakistan’s rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem and underscored the country’s commitment to welcoming US investors and entrepreneurs. He noted that “Pakistan is positioning itself as a regional hub of opportunity—linking Central Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia. With forward-looking policies, robust human capital, and special facilitation under the SIFC platform, we are ready to partner with US businesses on high-impact, future-ready solutions”.
The ambassador also emphasized the role of the Pakistani diaspora and professional communities in bridging commercial linkages. “We value the openness and entrepreneurial spirit of California’s innovation economy. We believe sustained dialogue like today’s can translate into actionable partnerships,” he noted. The attendees expressed keen interest in exploring pilot projects, joint ventures, and collaborative storytelling formats that connect the two markets—particularly in climate-resilient agri-tech, blockchain-based finance, and culturally diverse digital media. This engagement with US corporate leaders is part of the economic diplomacy efforts of the Embassy and the Consulate General under the government of Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) framework. Ambassador Sheikh is currently visiting California and the thrust of his visit on deepening economic collaboration between Pakistan and the US West Coast.
