RIYADH — Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha revealed that Saudi Arabia has made great strides in digital transformation. He said that the LEAP Tech Conference 2024 would bring in technological investments amounting to $11.9 billion, which is the largest of its kind in the region. The minister said this while opening the 3rd edition of LEAP Tech Conference 2024, under the slogan "New Horizons," at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center on Monday. Al-Swaha said that the LEAP investments came with the support of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for the growth of the digital economy. "Saudi Arabia seeks to change the region through development in the field of technology. We have one of the best technological environments for the growth and development of the entire sector, and human capital is the most important to us because it represents a success story," he said. More than 1,100 speakers including international figures, experts and specialists in the technology sector join their Saudi counterparts at the four-day conference, which is expected to witnesses huge flow of more than 200,000 visitors. Major topics on the first day of the conference include artificial intelligence, smart city technologies, the impact of digitization and artificial intelligence on the workforce, green computing, the future of innovation, strategic transformation, and investing in the future of humanity. The Leap conference also includes a group of new platforms and theaters, namely the digital entrepreneurship platform 'Code,' the theater of the Ministry of Information, Space, Games, and the startup company. It also includes competitions dedicated to startup companies with prizes exceeding $1million. The competition is divided into several categories: LEAP Award, Rising Star, Aviatrix, Technology for Humanity, New Horizons, and Artificial Intelligence. LEAP, the technology exhibition, aims to solve the major challenges facing humanity through the large scale investment in game changing technologies that have the potential to reshape the way we live. LEAP's mission is to be a truly global event attracting the world's most innovative companies, most powerful venture capitalists, and most exciting tech entrepreneurs and thought leaders. The event is witnessing the presence of more than 1,800 exhibitors, and over 668 startup companies on a sprawling area exceeding 138,000 square meters.
