The inaugural LEAP East 2026, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 8 to 10, attracted more than 35,000 technology professionals, policymakers, and investors from 30 countries and regions, according to a press release from Brand Hong Kong. The event, the first LEAP summit staged outside Saudi Arabia, featured over 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors, and more than 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 also announced 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, with top officials including Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSARG, and Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, attending the opening ceremony.
Chan highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages, stating, "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 cited robust intellectual property protection under the common law system, free flow of capital, goods, talent, and data, simple low taxes, and high safety and stability as foundations for business and creativity.
Chan invited Saudi and Gulf enterprises to use Hong Kong as an international fundraising and risk-management platform, expressing commitment to further cooperation in innovation, infrastructure, green technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and professional services. "Innovation needs capital, and Hong Kong is where capital and ideas meet," he said, referring to the "Finance+" strategy.
Professor Sun noted 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 globally 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.
Professor Sun met with Mr. 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," he said. 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, plus finance and professional services, to explore concrete projects.
More information is available at Brand Hong Kong.
