Oslo Innovation week: P@SHA opens Nordic corridor for home industry

KARACHI: A delegation of around 30 Pakistani technology leaders, founders and innovators, took part in Oslo Innovation Week 2026, organized by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), in Norway.

Delegates held multiple high-profile business meetings and are following up on the partnership leads. The delegation opened new routes for Pakistan’s IT industry into the Nordic market.

Led by Ms. Kheezran Khan, Director of Marketing & Outreach, P@SHA, it engaged investors, startups, enterprise leaders and policymakers across Norway’s innovation ecosystem to build B2B partnerships, joint ventures and cross-border collaboration.

Across the four-day event, which featured more than 100 specialized sessions, P@SHA delegates met counterparts in high-growth sectors including artificial intelligence, deep tech, clean tech, health tech and the blue economy.

A highlight was a bilateral business networking session at the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament. There, Pakistani tech leaders met Norwegian business executives and policymakers to explore long-term digital trade between the two countries.

Delegates presented Pakistani capabilities in AI, software engineering, enterprise automation and sustainable technology, matched to the Nordic region’s digital needs. They also explored venture partnerships, joint R&D, and talent models that help European scale-ups grow with Pakistani engineering teams.

Dr. Shoab Ahmed Khan, Chairman of P@SHA, said that Oslo Innovation Week is a deliberate step in P@SHA’s Strategy 2031, which aims to triple the IT sector’s export contribution to Pakistan, to $15 billion by FY2031.

He said that goal depends on reaching new markets with the right strategy for each region. The Nordic countries lead the world in digital transformation, sustainability and deep technology, and they value quality, trust and long-term partnership.

“By connecting our software houses directly with Norwegian enterprises and investors, we are moving beyond hourly outsourcing toward high-value partnerships in AI, fintech and green technology. The response our delegates received in Oslo reflects the strength of Pakistan’s engineering talent,” he added.

The mission supports two of P@SHA’s three strategic objectives, Export Expansion and Ecosystem & Talent.

P@SHA will follow up on the connections made in Oslo through its Brand & Global Outreach and Digital Export & Growth committees, to turn introductions into contracts, partnerships and investment.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026