Islamabad, June 15, 2026: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), in collaboration with the African diplomatic community in Islamabad, will celebrate Africa Day 2026 on June 30 at the S.M. Munir Auditorium, aiming to strengthen economic, cultural and people-to-people relations between Pakistan and African countries.
The decision was finalized during a visit to ICCI by Mauritius High Commissioner Mr. Munsoor Kurrimbaccus and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Morocco Ahmed Drif on Monday.
The visiting diplomats were received by ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood, Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Convener of ICCI Standing Committee on Diplomatic Affairs Zafar Bakhtawari, Convener of the Standing Committee on Sister Cities Initiative Sajid Iqbal, former Senior Vice President Khalid Chaudhry, Executive Member Irfan Chaudhry and Secretary General Ghulam Murtaza.
Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Munsoor Kurrimbaccus appreciated ICCI’s proactive role in promoting business diplomacy and strengthening links with chambers of commerce and business communities around the world. He praised the Chamber’s leadership for its efforts in advancing international economic cooperation and creating opportunities for business-to-business engagement.
Ahmed Drif highlighted the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Morocco and emphasized the significant potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges. He stressed the importance of closer collaboration between the public and private sectors of both countries.
Addressing the gathering, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood said Africa holds a special place in Pakistan’s economic and trade diplomacy, offering vast opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, mining, information technology, tourism, education and infrastructure development.
He expressed confidence that the Africa Day celebration would provide an important platform for diplomats, business leaders, investors and policymakers from Pakistan and African countries to explore new partnerships and investment opportunities.
“The Africa Day celebration will not only showcase the continent’s rich cultural diversity but also highlight the immense trade and investment potential of African nations, helping strengthen commercial linkages between Pakistan and Africa,” he said.
Zafar Bakhtawari underscored the importance of cultural diplomacy in deepening relations between Pakistan and African countries. He emphasized that exchanges of business delegations, cultural groups, academic collaborations and culinary experiences could significantly enhance people-to-people contacts and mutual understanding.
Participants agreed that Africa Day 2026 would serve as a unique opportunity to celebrate the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and African nations while laying the groundwork for stronger economic, cultural and diplomatic cooperation in the future.
The event is expected to attract ambassadors, diplomats, government officials, business leaders, investors, representatives of the corporate sector and members of the diplomatic community from Pakistan and across Africa.
