LEAP East 2026 opens to deepen I&T co-operation between Middle East and Hong Kong (with photos)
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In his remarks, Mr Chan welcomed the inaugural LEAP East to Hong Kong, marking the first LEAP conference held outside Saudi Arabia. He said the event underscored the deepening partnership between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, and highlighted Hong Kong's role as a unique gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the world. He is pleased to note that LEAP East will continue to be held in Hong Kong for the next three years.
Mr Chan outlined Hong Kong's strengths as an ideal base for innovation, including its common law system, strong intellectual property protection, free flow of capital, goods, talent and data, simple and low tax regime, and safe and stable business environment.
He set out three key strategies underpinning Hong Kong's innovation development: leveraging "Finance+" through vibrant capital markets, venture capital and private equity, and government investment support; advancing "AI+" by developing artificial intelligence as a strategic industry and applying it across sectors; and integrating technology, talent, education and industry through the Northern Metropolis and deeper collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Mr Chan also invited Saudi and Gulf enterprises to use Hong Kong as an international fundraising and risk-management platform, and expressed HKSAR's commitment to further strengthening co-operation with Saudi Arabia in innovation, infrastructure, green technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and professional services. Mr Chan remarked that he plans to lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia again later this year, bringing leading companies in infrastructure, green tech, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, plus professionals in the finance, investment and professional services sector, to explore concrete projects and further partnership.
The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) is the Hong Kong Government Partner of LEAP East 2026. Professor Sun in his speech thanked Saudi Arabia for extending the technology conference to Hong Kong, recalling his 2024 visit to Riyadh that sparked I&T collaboration.
Professor Sun mentioned that Hong Kong is building a comprehensive I&T ecosystem with strategic focuses on life and health technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and energy. He highlighted the city's strong R&D capabilities, for instance, the flagship InnoHK platform's 38 laboratories are in collaboration with over 30 top-notch research institutions from around the world. He also cited rapid digital infrastructure development, including the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, which is set to provide 180,000 PFLOPS of computing power by 2032 — a 36‑fold increase from the current level that will position Hong Kong as an international data hub. To accelerate R&D commercialisation and new industrialisation, the Government has committed over USD3.8 billion through three HK$10 billion funding schemes.
Professor Sun highlighted Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" for international exchanges. Emphasising Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages of strong support from the Motherland while remaining closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems," he positioned the city as an ideal gateway for both Mainland enterprises going global and Saudi and Middle Eastern firms accessing Chinese and other Asian markets, reaffirming Hong Kong's readiness to partner globally for a sustainable, innovative future.
After the opening ceremony, Mr Chan and Professor Sun toured the LEAP East's exhibition and visited the Hong Kong Pavilion. Professor Sun also met with Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Alswaha, to exchange views on I&T collaborations between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.
The three-day LEAP East 2026 will be held from July 8 to 10, featuring a diverse range of technological fields including artificial intelligence, deep tech, smart cities, and new energy industries. The event aims to build an integrated ecosystem for investors and startups and to promote cross-border industrial collaboration. The ITIB set up the Hong Kong Pavilion to showcase the I&T development and achievements of Hong Kong.
Ends/Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Issued at HKT 21:22
Issued at HKT 21:22
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