September 4, 2026 Results of the Japan-Saudi Arabia Public-Private ICT Policy Dialogue and LEAP 2026

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) held the first Japan-Saudi Arabia Public-Private ICT Policy Dialogue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, based on the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of ICT signed between MIC and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2019. In addition, at the World Tech Stage of LEAP 2026, the largest tech exhibition in Saudi Arabia, held in Riyadh from Monday, August 31, 2026, to Thursday, September 3, 2026, MIC delivered a keynote speech and Japanese companies participated in a panel discussion on Wednesday, September 2.

1．Overview

(1) Japan-Saudi Arabia Public-Private ICT Policy Dialogue

Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Location: Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center
Participants:
From Japan: KOIZUMI Hidechika, Director-General for International Affairs, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC; YAMANAKA Naohiro, Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation MIC; Asilla, Inc.; HITACHI ARABIA REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS CO.; MITSUI & CO., LTD.; 1FINITY Inc.; Rakuten Symphony; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.; Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Riyadh Office
From Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

(2) LEAP 2026 World Tech Stage Japan Session

Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Location: Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center
Japanese companies participating in the panel discussion: Asilla, Inc.; HITACHI ARABIA REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS CO.; KYOCERA Corporation; 1FINITY Inc.; Rakuten Symphony

2．Main Contents

(1) Japan-Saudi Arabia Public-Private ICT Policy Dialogue

　On Tuesday, September 1, the first Japan-Saudi Arabia Public-Private ICT Policy Dialogue was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Based on the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of ICT signed between MIC and MCIT in 2019, the policy dialogue provided an opportunity for MIC and MCIT to share information and exchange views on policy matters, for Japanese companies to introduce their services and technologies, and for the two countries to confirm future cooperation.

(2) LEAP 2026 World Tech Stage Japan Session

　At the World Tech Stage of LEAP 2026, the largest tech exhibition in Saudi Arabia, held in Riyadh from Monday, August 31, 2026, to Thursday, September 3, 2026, the Japan Session was held. At the beginning of the session, Mr. KOIZUMI took the stage and delivered the keynote speech, "Japan's Blueprint for Saudi Arabia's AI Future." Subsequently, Japanese companies with strengths in reliable and secure digital infrastructure, advanced AI technologies, and other areas introduced their respective technologies and successful cases of utilizing AI, and held a panel discussion on specific possibilities for contributing to Saudi Arabia's digital transformation and sustainable growth and for deepening the strategic partnership between Japan and Saudi Arabia in the field of AI.

3．Future Direction

　MIC will continue to support efforts to strengthen the international competitiveness of Japan's ICT industry. In addition, based on the concept of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)," MIC will work to further promote global business and technological collaboration between Japan and Saudi Arabia toward the development of reliable and resilient digital infrastructure connecting the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa (the "FOIP Digital Corridor Initiative").