Over 100 Pakistani IT companies participate in LEAP 2025

February 11, 2025 (MLN): Pakistani IT companies are aggressively exploring new and emerging tech markets, particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as more than 100 firms providing IT and IT-enabled services participate in LEAP 2025, one of the world’s major tech trade fairs, being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

More than 1,000 delegates from Pakistan, including businessmen, government officials, investors, exporters, and speakers, are attending the conference.

This marks the highest-ever participation by Pakistan at LEAP in terms of both companies and visitors.

Pakistani IT firms are showcasing their latest solutions and services at LEAP 2025, engaging in strategic networking, and exploring joint ventures and investment opportunities in the Kingdom.

State Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion at the event, according to the press release.

LEAP is an annual technology conference in Riyadh that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and investors to shape the future of technology and digital transformation.

Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES, Muhammad Umair Nizam, stated that Pakistani IT companies are attracting numerous foreign firms from various sectors at LEAP 2025.

Multiple business deals have already been signed between Pakistani companies and international entities during the trade fair.

Pakistani IT companies witnessed a 100% increase in IT exports during the last financial year and are set to achieve another record this year, driven by new business deals at both public and private levels, he added.

He further mentioned that collaborative efforts by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Ministry of IT, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and P@SHA have created a favorable environment for IT companies.

This has enabled them to expand operations in the KSA market and across the GCC region.

Notably, the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) has established a help desk to assist Pakistani companies in registering their businesses in Saudi Arabia.

This initiative has simplified the registration process, leading to the successful registration of over 100 Pakistani tech entities in the KSA market.

Pakistan became a member of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) in 2024, with its headquarters in Riyadh.

Its Secretary General, H.E. Ms. Demaah AlYahya, visited Pakistan last year during ITCN Asia 2024, held in Lahore, and met with various IT companies.

Highlighting the significance of LEAP conferences and exhibitions, Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalyze and an exporter with operations in Saudi Arabia, noted that LEAP is a key platform for connecting with multinational corporations from both the private and public sectors.

These companies are establishing operations in Saudi Arabia’s industrial zones and commercial sectors.

He also pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s increasing focus on AI, fintech, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and smart city solutions presents a lucrative market for Pakistani IT firms.

These companies have already built a strong reputation in software development, enterprise solutions, and digital services.

With Saudi Arabia poised to become a regional technology powerhouse, LEAP 2025 serves as a gateway for Pakistani enterprises to expand their footprint across the Middle East and beyond, he added.

Pakistan’s IT exports recorded a significant increase, reaching $1.53 billion in the first half of the 2024-25 financial year.

Projections indicate that this figure could surpass $4bn by the end of FY25.

Its exports to the KSA surged to $50mn last year.

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