Dubai, UAE – February 16, 2026: Global digital operator VEON Ltd. and Nutshell Group have announced a strategic partnership for THE GLOBAL CONNECT, a new international platform designed to bring together policymakers, global investors, corporate leaders, and academia to advance cross-border investment, digital transformation, and long-term economic cooperation across emerging and frontier economies.
The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nutshell Group, VEON Limited, and JazzWorld at VEON’s global headquarters in Dubai, on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit. The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration in digital innovation, inclusive growth, and investment facilitation, while strengthening public-private partnerships and accelerating sustainable economic development.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior government representatives and leadership from VEON and Nutshell Group, including Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance and Railways and Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, Government of Pakistan; H. E. Shafqat Ali Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates; Augie K. Fabela II, Founder and Chairman of VEON; Brandon Lewis, Board Member of VEON; Kaan Terzioglu, Global CEO of VEON; Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Founder and Chairman of Nutshell Group; Aamir Hafiz Ibrahim, CEO of JazzWorld and Member of the VEON Group Executive Committee; Usman Yousuf, Director, Nutshell Group; Rabia Ahmad, Director and CEO, Nutshell Group; Unaizah Saeed Ali, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Nutshell Group; Hande Asik, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer, VEON; Khaled Nasser, Director Government Relations, VEON; and Zaheer Mehdi, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer, JazzWorld.
Minister of State for Finance & Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani highlighted Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability achieved through consistent policies that strengthen investor confidence and improve the business environment. He welcomed the partnership between VEON, JazzWorld, and Nutshell Group, noting that such initiatives in digitalization and cross-border investment send a strong signal to global investors. He assured full government support and recognized Nutshell Group’s role in creating an important platform for Pakistan’s global economic engagement.
Commenting on the initiative, Founder and Chairman of Nutshell Group Muhammad Azfar Ahsan stated: “THE GLOBAL CONNECT is built on a simple but critical principle: countries like Pakistan and other emerging economies do not lack potential; they lack structured platforms that turn intent into execution. Our goal is to connect global capital, technology, and markets with credible opportunities, fostering long-term partnerships, continuity, and trust.”
In a joint statement, VEON Founder & Chairman Augie K. Fabela II and Global CEO Kaan Terzioglu reaffirmed VEON’s long-term commitment to Pakistan and other high-potential emerging markets through the “Invest in Pakistan Now” initiative. They highlighted the transformative role of digital platforms in expanding financial inclusion, boosting economic participation, and accelerating productivity, and expressed confidence that collaboration with Nutshell Group would enhance international investor engagement and unlock new opportunities.
CEO of JazzWorld, Aamir Hafiz Ibrahim, added that Pakistan’s strong fundamentals, scale, resilience, and growing digital infrastructure position the country well for its next phase of growth. He noted that initiatives such as “Invest in Pakistan Now” and THE GLOBAL CONNECT will help global investors better understand and engage with emerging opportunities on the ground.
The inaugural meeting of THE GLOBAL CONNECT will be held in Islamabad in May 2026, bringing together leaders from more than 25 countries to advance economic cooperation, promote cross-border investment, and develop practical pathways for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Headquartered in Islamabad, THE GLOBAL CONNECT is establishing a strategic presence across key global economic centers, including Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East; Tashkent and Astana in Central Asia; Cairo and Nairobi in Africa; Beijing and Hong Kong in China; Washington, New York, and Toronto in the Americas; as well as Istanbul and London. This growing global footprint will enable deeper connectivity among investors, businesses, policymakers, and institutions, strengthening economic linkages across regions.
THE GLOBAL CONNECT aims to serve as a credible and enduring bridge between Pakistan and the international community, facilitating investment, trade, knowledge exchange, and long-term economic cooperation.
The event also welcomed prominent industry leaders and distinguished guests from across sectors, including Samad Dawood, Vice Chairman, Engro Holdings; Saeed Alhebsi, Advisor in AI, UAE Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation; Brendan McKittrick, Chairman, HBAN, and Co-Founder, CEO & Chairman, Aeroband; Jimmy Nguyen, Global Blockchain & Emerging Tech Investor; Tahir Malik, Global CEO, Shan Foods; Faraz Minai, Co-founder & CEO, Andulus Holdings LLC; Shazad Dada, Founder & Managing Partner, Dada Partners; and Asim Chohan, Vice President, Global Operations COO, Morgan Stanley USA. Their presence underscored broad international support for THE GLOBAL CONNECT and highlighted the shared vision of driving innovation, collaboration, and sustainable economic growth across emerging and frontier markets.
