The inaugural LEAP East 2026, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 8 to 10, gathered more than 35,000 technology professionals, policymakers and investors from 30 countries and regions. The event, the first LEAP summit staged outside Saudi Arabia, featured over 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors and over 400 investors, covering artificial intelligence, deep tech, smart cities and new energy industries.
Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, said at the opening ceremony: 'This turnout speaks volumes about the global appeal of LEAP East and the strength of our shared vision.' He added that the conference will continue to be held in Hong Kong for the next three years.
The event underscored the deepening partnership between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, attended alongside Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of Hong Kong.
'Hong Kong is perhaps the only city in the world that connects seamlessly to both the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world at the same time,' Chan said, noting Hong Kong's common law system, robust intellectual property protection, free flow of capital and data, low taxes, and safety and stability. He invited Saudi and Gulf enterprises to use Hong Kong as an international fundraising and risk-management platform, and expressed commitment to cooperation in innovation, infrastructure, green technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and professional services.
'Innovation needs capital, and Hong Kong is where capital and ideas meet. This is the heart of our "Finance+" strategy,' Chan said.
Professor Sun highlighted that Hong Kong's innovation and technology efforts are bearing fruit. The number of start-ups has surged 40% since 2021, reaching 5,200 in 2025. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster ranked first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025, and Hong Kong ranked fourth in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025 and second in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026. Hong Kong also topped the world in IPOs in 2025, with 119 listings raising about US$35 billion.
'This international gathering reflects the rising global I&T momentum, and Hong Kong is proud to serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" for international exchanges,' Professor Sun said.
Chan also revealed plans to lead a Hong Kong delegation to Saudi Arabia later this year, bringing companies in infrastructure, green tech, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, plus finance and professional services professionals, to explore concrete projects.
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