Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh Meets Business Leaders in Chicago
Chicago : The Pakistani American Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (PACCC) hosted a business roundtable in honor of Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, during his visit to Chicago. Consul General of Pakistan in Chicago, Tariq Karim, also attended the meeting.
The event brought together prominent members of the Pakistani-American business community and industry leaders from diverse sectors, including textiles and apparel, technology, energy, healthcare and venture capital.
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh emphasized the significance of the Pakistan–U.S. trade and investment partnership, noting that the United States formed Pakistan’s largest export destination. He reiterated the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to expanding bilateral trade in the coming years for the mutual benefit of both countries.
The Ambassador highlighted Pakistan’s dynamic and forward-looking investment environment, supported by competitive incentives, a skilled young workforce, and expanding infrastructure. He also noted Pakistan’s strategic geographic location as a natural hub for regional trade and connectivity, linking South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
He also briefed the participants on the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as a single-window operation for foreign investors and institutional underwriter of policy continuity. He invited American businesses to explore emerging opportunities in IT, trade, agriculture, energy, healthcare, mining, and minerals.
Ambassador Sheikh affirmed that the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., along with the Consulate General in Chicago remained fully committed to advancing economic diplomacy geared to positioning Pakistan as a reliable, long-term partner for U.S. investors and traders.
The leadership of PACCC, including President Mr. Naveed Anwar and Dr. Tariq Butt, shared the chamber’s vision and objectives. They noted that PACCC, launched in April 2025, was conceptualized in close consultation with the Consul General to promote economic collaboration and diaspora-led entrepreneurship.
Participants discussed ways to improve access to U.S. markets, strengthen institutional linkages with Pakistani industry and foster greater business-to-business engagement.
Consul General Tariq Karim thanked the PACCC leadership for turning the chamber’s vision into reality and appreciated efforts to connect business communities in both countries. He shared that Pakistan’s trade and investment engagement with the U.S. Midwest is rapidly growing, and reaffirmed the Consulate General’s commitment to supporting diaspora entrepreneurs and fostering connections with credible partners in Pakistan.
PACCC members also reiterated their support for organizing future trade delegations, investment forums, and business promotion events to further deepen bilateral commercial ties. They assured the Ambassador of their full support in advancing shared objectives.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
