Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul visited the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and its flagship National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) in Islamabad to explore avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation in technology, innovation, and industry-led research.
The delegation was received by (Retd.) Air Marshal Rizwan and senior management of NUST, who briefed the two Ministers on the university’s integrated model of academia-industry-government collaboration, said a release issued here on Thursday. The leadership presented NUST’s vision of building a comprehensive innovation ecosystem that connects education, advanced research, commercialization, and industrial partnerships under one framework. During the visit to NSTP and Techno Park, the delegation was given a detailed presentation on projects in artificial intelligence, semiconductor design, smart city technologies, robotics, aerospace engineering, biotechnology, and digital infrastructure.
The Ministers were informed about Pakistan’s growing indigenous capabilities in chip design, high-performance computing, and AI-driven solutions developed according to local requirements and international commercial standards.
Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan appreciated the depth of innovation at NUST and lauded the institution’s role in strengthening Pakistan’s knowledge economy. He remarked that the future of trade diplomacy lies in technology-driven growth and emphasized that Pakistan must position itself not only as a trading nation but also as a technology-producing and exporting economy. The Minister commended the researchers, startups, and industry partners at NSTP for contributing to national capacity building and expressed confidence that such ecosystems will play a vital role in enhancing Pakistan’s global competitiveness. Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul praised Pakistan’s structured innovation model and described the NSTP ecosystem as impressive and forward-looking. She noted that the integration of academia, industry, and government under one platform provides a practical blueprint for emerging economies seeking to modernize their industrial and digital capabilities.
The Cambodian Minister expressed keen interest in expanding collaboration in digital infrastructure, research exchange, and technology transfer, underscoring her country’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with Pakistan. The delegation also visited advanced laboratories, where they observed aerospace control models, AI-based smart city systems, and semiconductor design projects developed by local teams. Discussions were held with several technology companies operating within NSTP, focusing on export potential, joint ventures, and structured facilitation to help high-growth startups scale internationally.