40 Pakistani companies to participate in mega IT event in Riyadh next month — official

KARACHI: About 40 Pakistani companies are ready to exhibit their potential at a mega information technology exhibition held in Riyadh from the beginning of the next month, said a senior Pakistani official in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Arranged by the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the event will feature more than 400 expert speakers to provide insights into the technological developments and share cutting edge content.
The LEAP exhibition has become a global platform connecting pioneers and disruptors with business and government leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists and allow them the opportunity to experience and learn about future technologies.
“Nearly 40 Pakistani companies will be participating in the event which is going to be held from the first to the third of February,” Azhar Ali Dahar, minister (trade and investment) at the Pakistan embassy in Riyadh, told Arab News.
The Pakistani trade mission in Riyadh will 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.
“This is the first time Pakistani companies will be arriving in Saudi Arabia in a big way since the focus of these firms has traditionally remained on Europe, the United States and Canada,” Dahar said, adding: “Around 25 companies are participating as exhibitors and about 15 are start-ups.”
He said the trade mission wanted Pakistani companies to explore huge opportunities in the information technology sector of the kingdom which was poised to experience huge 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,” Dahar 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 said the Pakistani portion of the exhibition would be inaugurated by the country‘s ambassador to the Saudi Arabia, Lt. Gen. (r) Bilal Akbar.
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 Sunday.

40 Pakistani companies to participate in mega IT event in Riyadh next month — official