LEAP East Tech exhibition in HK -- a debut outside Saudi Arabia

The LEAP East technology exhibition is taking place at the Convention and Exhibition Centre and is scheduled to continue until Friday.

This is the first time the event has been held outside Saudi Arabia.

The robots at the technology exhibition can do just about everything, from writing Chinese style calligraphy, to performing minimally invasive surgeries, and even acting as patrol dogs.

The event was first launched in Riyadh in 2022, and this is the first time it has been held outside Saudi Arabia.

This edition features over 300 exhibition booths on AI and fintech, aiming to provide a platform for around 30,000 tech innovators to network.

A representative from a Saudi drug company visited the booth of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to discuss potential collaboration.

ALI ALHASAN: "We want to achieve something like a joint venture, something like two ways technology license agreement, so both can leverage each one's expertise, each one technology so we can together develop one drug for genetic diseases."

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong believes that Saudi Arabia's overall direction in technology development aligns with that of Hong Kong's, highlighting that Saudi Arabia has a strong interest in green and energy technology.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced at the opening ceremony he will lead another delegation to visit Saudi Arabia later this year.

Financial Secretary PAUL CHAN: "Hong Kong is precisely the gateway and platform, where proven frontier technology and advance manufacturing businesses from this region can settle into Saudi Arabia, and expand across Europe and Africa.

I plan to lead a delegation to Saudi region later this year, bringing leading companies in infrastructure, green tech, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, plus professional in finance investments and professional service sector."

LEAP East is open to the public for free, and it will be held in Hong Kong in the coming three years.