The Saudi delegation had a brief tour of the HKSTP and interacted with startup company executives before the event.

Impressed by what he has experienced in HKSTP, Minister Alswaha said it is an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to diversify to a factor-based economy "to join hands with you and build an innovation bridge and a gateway for humanity", including empowering youths and women. Saudi Arabia recently succeeded in sending the first Muslim woman astronaut to the International Space Station.

He said that with Hong Kong and the entire China startup community, Saudi Arabia has delivered the largest, most sustainable eco-tourism project in MENA region— the Red Sea Project.

"If there's a gateway for humanity and a partnership for life to join hands and how we can continue to empower people, safeguard the planet, it is definitely this partnership between the kingdom and Hong Kong," the minister said.