KARACHI: A mega information technology exhibition which began in Riyadh on Tuesday has attracted tech firms from across the world including 40 Pakistani companies that are keen to explore the Middle Eastern market, confirmed Pakistan’s trade mission in Ƶ in a Twitter post.
The LEAP exhibition has become a global platform connecting pioneers and disruptors with business and government leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists while allowing them the opportunity to experience and learn about future technologies.
Arranged by the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the event has brought together more than 400 expert speakers who will provide representatives of tech firms insights into global technological developments and share cutting edge content.
In his keynote address, the kingdom’s information technology minister Abdullah Alswaha said Ƶ was investing about $6.4 billion in future technologies.
Several global tech giants have taken the opportunity to reveal their investment plans in the Middle East where countries are trying to diversify their economies by developing their science and technology sectors.
Sharing the event’s pictures on Twitter, Pakistan’s trade mission in Ƶ revealed that “25 I.T Companies & 15 Start Ups” were participating in the exhibition.
The country’s trade mission has set up two pavilions at the event in collaboration with the Pakistan Software Houses Association, Pakistan Software Export Board, Ministry of IT & Telecom and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
Azhar Ali Dahar, minister (trade and investment) at the Pakistan embassy in Riyadh, told Arab News last week this was the first time Pakistani companies were going to participate in the Saudi exhibition in such a large number, adding the focus of these firms had traditionally been on Europe, the United States and Canada.
Dahar said the trade mission wanted Pakistani companies to explore huge opportunities in the information technology sector of the kingdom which was poised to experience significant growth under Saudi Vision 2030.
“We have been seeking Pakistani companies, other than those selling food and traditional items, to target the Saudi market and information technology was always considered to be one of the potential sectors,” he said.
“We are confident that Pakistani IT firms will benefit from Saudi Vision 2030 which will allow the kingdom to invest more than $400 billion in various sectors,” he added.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Ƶ Lt. Gen. (r) Bilal Akbar inaugurated the Pakistani side of the exhibition.
The trade mission is also planning to organize a networking meetup at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce in collaboration for Pakistani and Saudi companies, industry leaders and investors to engage in information exchange and business matchmaking.
Muhammad Zohaib Khan who will be representing the Pakistan Software Houses Association described the exhibition as a “stellar opportunity.”
“LEAP Riyadh is a stellar opportunity for Pakistan’s tech companies to increase their export and establish connections in the Middle Eastern market,” he was quoted as saying in a statement shared by the trade mission on last Sunday.
