France-Pakistan Business Forum

What France-Pakistan Business Forum does

The Pakistan France Business Alliance (PFBA), legally known as Pakistan France Business Alliance, is a bilateral business forum established in 1991 and headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan. It operates as a Section 42 non-profit company limited by guarantee registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, and serves as a member of CCI France International, which operates across 92 countries. PFBA's core function is to facilitate trade and investment between Pakistan and France through organized events, trade delegations, business forums, exhibitions, and networking services.

PFBA's service portfolio comprises three membership tiers — Corporate Members (French companies and Pakistan-France joint ventures registered with SECP or State Bank of Pakistan), General Members (authorized agents of French companies), and Associate Members (trading partners importing or exporting with France) — alongside a French Visa Fast-Track service offered through an agreement with the French Embassy in Islamabad, an annual Trade Performance Awards program (held 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019), biannual newsletters circulated to members and organizations including MEDEF, and facilitation of participation in major French exhibitions such as SPACE Rennes, SIAL Paris, VivaTech, and Salon Agriculture. The association's board comprises senior executives from member companies including Thales International, Schneider Electric Pakistan, Bureau Veritas, L'Oreal Pakistan, and Gerry's International, with the French Ambassador to Pakistan serving as Patron-in-Chief and the French Consul General in Karachi serving as Patron.

Revenue is generated through recurring annual membership fees across the three tiers. PFBA maintains operational coverage in both Karachi (headquarters) and a Northern Chapter in Lahore, and engages in cross-border delegation exchanges including the GCC-France Business Forum 2025 and partnerships with Business France and Pakistan's Board of Investment under the 2019 MoU for bilateral cooperation. The organization's stated mission is to foster business understanding, strengthen friendly relations between Pakistani and French business communities, and provide resources such as directories, periodicals, and trade information relevant to French companies.

Name

France-Pakistan Business Forum

Legal name

Pakistan France Business Alliance

Website

https://pfba.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Pakistan France Business Alliance (PFBA), established in 1991 and headquartered in Karachi, is a bilateral business forum that facilitates Pakistan-France trade through membership programs, trade delegations, business forums, visa facilitation, and exhibition participation for 100+ member companies across both countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: PFBA generates revenue through annual membership fees paid by corporate, general, and associate members. Membership categories include Corporate Members (French companies and Pakistan-France joint ventures registered with SECP/SBP), General Members (authorized agents of French companies), and Associate Members (trading partners importing/exporting to or from France). The association publishes biannual newsletters circulated among members, textile and pharmaceutical companies, chambers of commerce, and French organizations including MEDEF.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PFBA is a membership-based bilateral business forum founded in 1991 that fosters trade relations between Pakistan and France. It offers tiered membership categories (Corporate, General, Associate), facilitates exchange of business delegations, organizes corporate forums, AGMs, and Trade Performance Awards, and runs a French Visa Fast-Track service for members through an agreement with the French Embassy in Islamabad. It also publishes a biannual newsletter and shares information on major French trade exhibitions relevant to Pakistani businesses.

Product overview

The Pakistan France Business Alliance (PFBA) is a membership-based bilateral trade promotion organization established in 1991 that operates as a forum facilitating business relations between Pakistan and France. Rather than a unified technology product, PFBA offers a portfolio of services including membership programs (Corporate, General, and Associate tiers), visa facilitation through the French Embassy, trade event organization including the Trade Performance Awards, a biannual newsletter publication, and exhibition information sharing for businesses interested in the French market. PFBA functions as part of CCI France International's network spanning 92 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PFBA Membership (Corporate, General, and Associate tiers) Tiered annual membership program providing access to PFBA's bilateral trade forum, business directories, networking events, French Visa Fast-Track service, biannual newsletter, Trade Performance Awards participation, and exhibition facilitation services for Pakistani and French enterprises engaged in bilateral trade.
• Bilateral Trade Promotion and Delegation Exchange Services Facilitates exchange of visitors and trade delegations between Pakistan and France, maintains directories and trade literature on French companies, and identifies business opportunities between the two countries. Includes coordination of delegation visits to French exhibitions.
• French Visa Facilitation (Fast-Track) Expedited business visa access service for PFBA members through an agreement with the French Embassy in Islamabad, providing Fast-Track processing for business travel visas.
• Trade Performance Awards Program Annual awards ceremonies recognizing companies for excellence in Pakistan-France bilateral trade performance, featuring French Ambassadors and senior government officials as chief guests.
• PFBA Newsletter (Biannual Publication) Biannual trade publication circulated among PFBA members, textile and pharmaceutical companies, chambers of commerce, Pakistani chambers, and distributed to French organizations through the Pakistan Embassy in Paris and MEDEF.
• France Exhibitions Information Service Information sharing and facilitation service for Pakistani businesses interested in French trade exhibitions including Salon International De l'Agriculture, Foire De Paris, Viva Tech, SIAL Paris, SPACE Rennes, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris, JEC World, PharmagoraPlus, Global Industrie, and SITL.
• France-Pakistan Business & Economic Forum High-profile corporate event series organized jointly by PFBA with the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Islamabad, featuring government dignitaries and bilateral business discussions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organized 11 Annual General Meetings (2015–2025) and 4+ Trade Performance Award ceremonies (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019) recognizing companies for excellence in bilateral trade.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Air France KLM (via Gerry's International)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Air France KLM launched its bluebiz corporate travel program in Pakistan through a partnership involving Gerry's Group, Air France KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and PFBA. The launch event was hosted to enable Pakistani businesses to streamline corporate travel programs and earn rewards.
• Business FrancemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024PFBA collaborates with Business France (the French export and investment agency) to identify business opportunities for French companies in Pakistan. In July 2019, BOI Pakistan and Business France signed an MoU to promote bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and business between Pakistan and France.
• Board of Investment (BOI) of PakistanmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019BOI Pakistan and Business France signed an MoU in July 2019 to promote bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and business. PFBA facilitates the implementation of such agreements between the two countries.
• French Business Council Dubai (FBC Dubai)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018PFBA has collaborated with the French Business Council Dubai, organizing visits of French business delegations from Dubai to Karachi in September 2018. PFBA facilitated B2B meetings between FBC Dubai delegation members and Pakistani companies, including PFBA members.
• CCI France InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991PFBA is a member of CCI France International, which operates across 92 countries. This membership enables PFBA to leverage an extensive international network to expand business prospects for its members, promoting trade between France and Pakistan and supporting French companies in their export development and establishment abroad.
• French Embassy in Islamabad (Economic Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPFBA collaborates closely with the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Islamabad, jointly organizing events such as 'Doing Business with France' forums, the France-Pakistan Business & Economic Forum, and corporate events. The French Ambassador serves as Patron-in-Chief of PFBA, and the Head of the French Economic Department is an integral member of PFBA's activities and Board engagement.
• French Consulate General in KarachicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPFBA works with the Consul General of France in Karachi, who serves as Patron of the organization. The Consulate participates in and supports PFBA events, including AGMs, corporate forums, and networking functions. Consul General Alexis Chahtahtinsky has been actively involved in recent PFBA events.
• Alliance Française de Karachi and LahoremajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPFBA collaborates with Alliance Française de Lahore and Karachi for organizing joint events including the France-Pakistan Business & Economic Forum 'Doing Business with France' (January 2026) and the book launch event on Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Alliance Française provides venue and logistical support for PFBA events in Lahore.
• Embassy of Pakistan in ParismajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPFBA maintains relations with the Pakistani Embassy in Paris for circulating newsletters and promoting PFBA activities to French companies and organizations including MEDEF (the largest business federation of France with 750,000 members).
• MEDEF (Mouvement des Entreprises de France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPFBA's newsletters and trade information are circulated to MEDEF, France's largest business federation with 750,000 members. PFBA has collaborated with MEDEF on webinars such as the agriculture sector webinar with 25 French companies participating.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PFBAPakistan
• Facebookfacebook.com/PFBA.Pakistan

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about France-Pakistan Business Forum