With great pleasure, I would like to extend my best wishes for the successful convening of the Sustainable Tourism Forum & Expo and the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) in Karachi.

Such vibrant events surely provide an excellent platform to strengthen regional economic cooperation, promote intra-ECO trade, and further explore innovative avenues for sustainable tourism and investment across the ECO region.

Tourism is a robust driving force of national economic growth, leading to multiple job creation and cultural exchanges among the various countries. To make Pakistan a world-class tourism destination, it is essentially important to make more effective efforts to showcase our rich heritage, natural beauty, and cultural diversity. The Government of Pakistan is committed to promoting tourism by creating an enabling environment for investment, including small and medium enterprises in tourism and related industries.

The ECO region, with its vital strategic location and abundant resources, holds immense scope for enhanced regional integration and consequently greater potential for increased trade and investment in the region. The participation of representatives from the private business sector, respective national chambers of commerce and industries, and businessmen in such events will certainly foster mutually beneficial economic partnerships and collaborations.

Hopefully, such events will provide valuable insights, strengthen mutual economic linkages and cooperation, and pave the way for a more industrially inclusive ECO region.

Once again, I extend my best wishes to all participants and organizers for organizing this event and for attaining fruitful and meaningful outcomes during the deliberations.