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, marking the first LEAP summit outside Saudi Arabia. The three-day event featured over 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors and more than 400 investors, covering cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, deep tech, smart cities and new energy industries.
At the opening ceremony, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan highlighted the significance of the turnout, stating, "This turnout speaks volumes about the global appeal of LEAP East and the strength of our shared vision." He confirmed that the conference will continue to be held in Hong Kong for the next three years. Other top officials included Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha.
The event underscored the deepening partnership between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, and highlighted Hong Kong's role as a unique gateway connecting mainland China with the world. Chan noted, "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," citing robust intellectual property protection under common law, free flow of capital, goods, talent and data, a simple low-tax regime, and high safety and stability.
Chan invited Saudi and Gulf enterprises to use Hong Kong as an international fundraising and risk-management platform, emphasizing 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," he said.
Professor Sun noted that Hong Kong's innovation and technology (I&T) efforts are yielding results, with start-ups surging 40% since 2021 to 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, including many tech champions.
Professor Sun met with Alswaha to discuss I&T collaborations. "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," Sun said. Chan revealed plans to lead a Hong Kong delegation to Saudi Arabia later this year, bringing leading companies in infrastructure, green tech, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, plus finance and professional services professionals, to explore concrete projects.
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