BEIJING, May 24 (WSH) — Global City Connect (GCC) officially announced the establishment of its Pakistan City Hub on May 22, marking a major step in GCC’s South Asia expansion and creating a new platform for China-Pakistan cooperation in digital economy, fintech, industrial collaboration, and sustainable development.
The announcement comes as China and Pakistan celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. As all-weather strategic partners, the two countries have maintained close cooperation across infrastructure, energy, finance, education, technology, and cultural exchanges.
With the continued advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), new opportunities are emerging in digital economy, artificial intelligence, green energy, fintech, and industrial upgrading.
Pakistan City Hub will focus on digital finance, industrial cooperation, technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and international business collaboration, while promoting long-term partnerships between Chinese and Pakistani governments, enterprises, financial institutions, and industry resources.
The newly appointed Chairman of GCC Pakistan City Hub is Pakistani fintech and digital banking pioneer Mr. Nadeem Hussain.
Mr. Hussain previously spent 27 years at Citigroup and later founded Tameer Microfinance Bank in 2005. In 2009, he launched EasyPaisa, Pakistan’s first mobile payment platform, which has since become one of the country’s most influential digital payment systems and a milestone in Pakistan’s fintech development.
He also played an important role in promoting Ant Group’s investment in Pakistan’s digital finance sector and has long supported financial inclusion, digital payments, and fintech innovation.
Currently, Mr. Hussain serves as Chairman of the Pakistan Fintech Network (PFN) and founded Planet N Group and Raqami Digital Bank, with extensive involvement in AI, digital banking, online education, startup investment, and youth entrepreneurship.
Industry observers believe Pakistan’s rapidly growing digital economy, young population, and increasing demand for mobile payments and digital banking are creating major opportunities for Chinese companies in fintech, AI applications, e-commerce, cloud services, and industrial digitalization.
More Chinese companies are also viewing Pakistan as a strategic gateway to South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia under the Belt and Road framework.
GCC stated that the Pakistan City Hub will serve not only as a window for Chinese enterprises to better understand the Pakistani market, but also as a platform for resource matching, project implementation, and long-term business cooperation.
GCC Expands International Cooperation Service System
As GCC’s global network continues to expand, the organization is also strengthening its international cooperation service system to better support Chinese companies going global.
Its Compliance Department, supported by the professional team of WideUnion Partners, has already been established to provide services in legal compliance, risk management, taxation, human resources, and overseas business operations.
Meanwhile, GCC’s Brand Department has also been launched. Led by the China Brand Innovation and Development Project together with international media and branding professionals, the department focuses on global communications, branding, public relations, media cooperation, and international resource integration.
GCC’s Overseas Business Department and other international cooperation divisions are also currently under development.
GCC Strengthens Global Cooperation Network
Since its launch, GCC has continued promoting international resource integration and cross-regional cooperation, gradually building a global cooperation network across North America, Asia, and Africa.
GCC has already advanced City Hub construction in Denver, Toronto, Ho Chi Minh City, Japan, and across the African continent, with the number of global physical City Hubs expected to reach 20 this year.
In May 2026, GCC jointly organized the “2026 FORUM ON CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” in Beijing together with the China Brand Innovation and Development Project and other organizations. The forum brought together representatives from UN-related organizations, international institutions, businesses, and media to discuss digital economy, green energy, globalization, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Previously, organizations including the China Brand Innovation and Development Project invited former UN General Assembly spokesperson and GCC Africa Continental Hub Chairman Dr. Djibril Diallo to visit China, where he met with several Chinese companies to discuss China-Africa cooperation in digital economy, renewable energy, infrastructure, and industrial development.
During his visit to Qingdao, Dr. Diallo and Chinese business representatives explored cooperation opportunities in smart energy, industrial digitalization, agriculture technology, and rail transit, involving companies such as Topscomm Communication Group, DAS Solar, Inspur Industrial Internet, and Jiangsu Famsun.
GCC said it will continue promoting cooperation between Chinese enterprises, international organizations, overseas governments, and global industrial resources through its “City Hub” mechanism.
Building a Global City Cooperation Platform
GCC positions cities as bridges for international cooperation, projects as drivers for implementation, and resource integration as its core capability.
The organization believes future international cooperation will increasingly rely on direct connections between cities, industries, and enterprises. Through its “National City Hubs + City Hubs” global network, GCC aims to promote practical international cooperation through business matchmaking, industrial collaboration, cultural exchange, and project implementation.
GCC focuses on supporting higher-quality international expansion for Chinese enterprises while promoting cooperation in digital economy, green energy, technological innovation, and SDG-related projects.
