The Summit & Agenda
Welcome to join the Growth!
Networking, meetings, talks and business.
We are bridging together businesses, business owners, decisions makers, suppliers, buyers, traders, industries for networking and new business. Please scroll down for details, agenda and some tips how to prepare to do business at FPBS.
The main focus of FPBS events is always supporting networking, boosting bilateral trade and investments in all industry and business sectors. In addition to those various talks and actions, as well as all B2B meetings and presentations taking place during the day, we picked up two very actual and important themes to be discussed at the FPBS 2023 main stage and those are energy and education.
Welcome to join us for the next Finland Pakistan Business Summit!
AGENDA OF FINLAND PAKISTAN BUSINESS SUMMIT 2023
ISLAMABAD, Monday, March 13, 2022
Serena Hotel Islamabad, Shamadan Hall I+II
09:00 Registration opens
10:00 am Opening of the Summit, Opening words and presentations by Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan H.E. Mr. Hannu Ripatti.
10:15 Welcoming words by Mr. Wille Eerola, Chairman of Finland Pakistan Business Council, Hon. Consul General of Pakistan in Finland, and Ms. Birgit Nevala, Programme Director of Finnpartnership
10: 30 – 11:15 Panel discussion: ”How to boost bilateral trade and investments between Finland and Pakistan, new areas, technology transfer, innovation, distribution channels, role of digitalization in industries, adding value to Pakistan exports”, moderated by Mr. Hassan Raza, Co-Chairman of Finland Pakistan Business Council (Islamabad), with panel members:
Mr. Nadeem Bashir, Director General, Board of Investment (BOI)
Mr. Axel Sointu, Business Partnership Lead, Finnpartnership
Mr. Imtiaz Rastgar, Chairman, Rastgar Group
Mr. Syed Javed Hassan, Economic columnist, former chairman, Economic Advisory Group/ NAVTCC
Mr. Zaheer Ud Din Dar, CEO, DARTWAYS
11:15 am – 12:15 Energy on FPBS 2022 Stage, Provided by Wärtsilä Corporation. A high-level panel discussion “Future of Energy Landscape of Pakistan”, with some of the best experts in technology technology, production, distribution, sustainability and future views on energy. Opening presentation by Mr. Alexander Eykerman, Wärtsilä and discussion moderated by Ms. Qurrat ul Ain Shirazi and with panel members:
Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Mr. Alexander Eykerman, Wärtsilä Energy Business
Mr. Faraz Khan, MBE, Founder, Director, SEED Ventures, Partner Ensogov
Ms. Ayla Majid, Founder & CEO Planetive Pakistan Planetive Middle East
12:15 – 13:00 Corporate Presentations, starting by KONE, the global leader in elevator and escalator industry, and followed by Finnpartnership and participating companies.
Lunch break.
14:00 Afternoon with Education, provided and opened by Finnish Global Education Solutions.
Opening words by Chief Guest, Federal Minister of Education and Professional Training, Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain. Rolling panel discussion on “From education to sustainable development, women empowerment and Social Impact – What the World’s Happiest Nation could bring to boost the Future of Pakistan”, moderated by Ms. Shaista Ayesha, CEO of Seed Ventures.
Opening speech by Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. Members of the panel:
Ms. Birgit Nevala, Program Director, Finnpartnership
Ms. Farzana Yaqoob, CEO Mantaq Center for Research, former a minister for Social Welfare and Women development AJK
Ms. Helena Mäkinen, K12 Education Program Lead, FGES
Ms. Marleena Tuuri, Project Manager, TAI
Ms. Kristiina Heikkilä, Head, Department of Teacher Education University of Turku
Closing the day with the High Tea at 16:00 pm.
KARACHI, Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Avari Tovers, Karachi, Khotshed Mahal
09:00 Registration opens
10:00 am Opening of the Summit, Opening words by Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan H.E. Hannu Ripatti and Mr. Ali Jameel, CEO, Founder of TPL Corporation.
10:20 am Welcoming words by the Chief Guest, Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, Minister of Energy, Government of Sindh, Pakistan.
10:30 – 11:15 “How to boost bilateral trade and investments between Finland and Pakistan – What branding, technology transfer, product development, better understanding on end-users and distribution channels can do for growing trade?”, rolling and interactive panel discussion with wonderful set up of panel members and topics, moderated by Mr. Wille Eerola, Chairman of Finland Pakistan Business Council with panel members:
Mr. Ziad Bashir, Director, Gul Ahmed
Mr. Amin Rammal, Technopreneur and Director, Asiatic Public Relations
Ms. Tabassum Vally, Consultant, Branding & Strategy
Mr. Anthony Petrolonis, General Manager, Healthcare Division, Interflow Group
11:15 am – 12:00 Energy on FPBS 2022 Stage, Provided by Wärtsilä Corporation. A high-level panel discussion “Future of Energy Landscape of Pakistan”, with some of the best experts in energy technology, production, distribution, sustainability for future views on energy sector in Pakistan. Interactive panel discussion moderated by Ms. Shaista Ayesha, CEO of Seed Ventures with:
Mr. Alexander Eykerman, Wärtsilä Energy Business
Mr. Danish Iqbal, Chairman, Gul Ahmed Energy Group & Metro Power Group of Companies, GA Energy Metro Power Group
Mr. Abdul Qayoom, Vice President, Special Projects, Engro Corporation
Mr. Jani Kangasaho, Project Development, Biovoima
12: 00– 12:15 Introduction of our non-profit partner, by Imran Choudhry, Senior Manager Community Outreach, The Citizens Foundation.
12:30 – 13:15 Corporate Presentations, starting by KONE, the global leader in elevator and escalator industry, and followed by Finnpartnership and participating companies.
Lunch break.
14:15 Afternoon with Education, provided and opened by Finnish Global Education Solutions
Opening words by H.E. Mr. Hannu Ripatti, Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan.
Afternoon’s discussion hosted by Dr. Shehzad Jeeva, CEO of Aga Khan Examination Board. “Finnish Approach – What the World’s Happiest Nation could bring to boost the Future of Pakistan”.
”Understanding the Finnish Education System”
“Challenges and opportunities – Pakistan Education System”
Ms. Birgit Nevala, Program Director, Finnpartnership
Ms. Helena Mäkinen, K12 Education Program Lead, FGES
Ms. Marleena Tuuri, Project Manager, TAI
Ms. Kristiina Heikkilä, Head, Department of Teacher Education University of Turku
Closing the day with High Tea and Networking for Better Education, provided by Finnish Global Education Solutions.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The answer is pretty simple: everyone who is looking for new business and growing exports or trade! We know that there is so much more to be done in terms of trade between Pakistan and Finland. There is growth and new business available on both sides of the field, and doors are open for growing bilateral trade and investments in any business or industry sector.
We have picked up education to be one of the special themes at FPBS 2023 stage for a good reason: Pakistan is a country with over 200 million people and over 50 percent of it’s population are under 15 years old. The challenges as well as opportunities with education, both in K12 and TVET sectors are absolutely huge and we would encourage all Finnish and Pakistani educationist, institutions, universities and private players to join us for one simple reason – The Change. There are already ongoing Finland-Pakistan joint-diploma programs in TVET sector, projects developing quality of teaching and teachers trainers and academic collaboration, but that is just the beginning.
Another main theme on stage is energy and where Pakistan is currently taking major steps in the production of sustainable energy, the challenge in production, distribution, new technology, digitalization is definetely there. But when the challenge exists, opportunity does too, and we are excited to host these talks and meetings between Finnish and Pakistani companies and governments for productive, effective and sustainable energy environment.
For any Finnish and other European companies and institutions perhaps not so familiar with the current status of Pakistan, we would share you just a few news highlighting the current opportunities and development in Pakistan. We are pretty sure these will make you consider to come and see Pakistan with your own eyes, that’s the only way to understand all opportunities there are:
HUM TV: Ambassador of Finland, H.E. Hannu Ripatti on HUM TV on Independence Day of Finland.
Finfund: Finnfund made first direct equity investment in Pakistan.
HCG: “Big Finnish Energy Delegation met with Prime Minister of Pakistan”
News24: “Pakistan Attaches great importance to relations with Finland”
HCG: “First graduates of TAI-NUTECH joint-diploma for Hospitality Management”
Tribune: Pakistan’s IT exports to surpass $ 3 billion this year”
Economist: “Prime Minister on his drive to modernize the country”
CPEC: “Pakistan is among the eight fast growing economies in the world”
Bloomberg: “135 million Millennials drive World’s fastest growing retail market”,
HOW TO PREPARE FOR BUSINESS SUMMIT?
Some Best Practices of 2012-2022
We have been hosting these events over the last decade and received plenty of feedback from participating companies and their representatives. Business Summit is a platform enabling networking, talks and new business but you need to prepare yourself for maximum results, here’re som of best practices:
1. Do Your Homework: Make a list of industries, business sectors or companies you wish to meet during the Summit. Google the market, analyze data, contact your own Embassy, Consulates, Honorary Consulates, trade bodies. What ever information you feel you’re needing, look for it. And most of all, who do you want to meet and why?
2. Invite Your Customers: Go through your own customer database or any earlier contacts you have had, or emails you received from potential new customers asking about your products or services. Maybe someone has indicated their interest to become your supplier or distributor? Make sure these will come and meet you at the Summit – there are plenty of rooms to meet them during the official agenda.
3. Prepare Your Materials and Offer: Make sure that you have materials ready and with you at the Summit, and keep clear what you are actually looking for. New business, more business, new partners, distributor, suppliers, agent? Clearer message, better results. And keep changing business cards and make sure you get back to everyone you met.
4. Use Summit to Promote You and Your Company: Summit offers a great opportunity to promote your company for new business and new customers. In addition to normal visibility there are also various opportunities for sponsoring, running your own mini exhibition or meetings, own stands or something else.
5. And finally, the golden rule #1: Be Active! And start it now. Start to collect details and build your own Summit package based on the things above. Meet people at the Summit, talk, change business cards, be active. Many of the Pakistani companies are multi-business corporations or family offices, something the Finnish companies used to be years ago, so talk and meet because you never know what is waiting for you behind the corner.