The inaugural LEAP East 2026 concluded in Hong Kong on July 10, drawing more than 35,000 technology professionals, policymakers, and investors from 30 countries and regions. The three-day event at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre featured over 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors, and over 400 investors, focusing on artificial intelligence, deep tech, smart cities, and new energy. This marks the first LEAP summit held outside Saudi Arabia, underscoring the deepening partnership between Hong Kong and the kingdom.
Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG), opened the ceremony, highlighting the significance of the turnout. ‘This turnout speaks volumes about the global appeal of LEAP East and the strength of our shared vision,’ Chan said. He announced that the conference will continue to be held in Hong Kong for the next three years, signaling a long-term commitment.
Other top officials attending included Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSARG, and Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia. The event emphasized Hong Kong’s unique position as a 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.’ He highlighted Hong Kong’s common law system, robust intellectual property protection, free flow of capital, goods, talent, and data, as well as its simple, low tax regime and safety.
Chan invited Saudi and Gulf enterprises to use Hong Kong as an international fundraising and risk-management platform, expressing the HKSAR’s commitment to strengthening 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 – using finance as a powerful enabler to drive the real economy,’ Chan said.
Professor Sun highlighted the HKSARG’s progress in innovation and technology (I&T), noting that the number of start-ups in Hong Kong surged by 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. Additionally, Hong Kong topped the world in initial public offerings in 2025, with 119 listings raising approximately US$35 billion, including many global tech champions.
Professor Sun also met with Alswaha to discuss I&T collaborations between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. He remarked, ‘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.’ Chan revealed plans to lead a Hong Kong delegation to Saudi Arabia later this year, bringing companies in infrastructure, green tech, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, along with finance and professional services professionals, to explore concrete projects and further partnerships.
The event highlights Hong Kong’s strategic role in global innovation and its deepening ties with Saudi Arabia, as both regions seek to leverage their strengths in technology and finance. For more information, visit Brand Hong Kong.
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