NEWS

Digital Future of Kuwait Unveiled at the first Thought Leadership Circle Series Event

Kuwait City, December 9, 2024—The first event of the Thought Leadership Circle Events Series, co-hosted by Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and The Business Year, brought together visionary leaders and innovators at the prestigious Chairman’s Club, KIPCO Tower, to explore transformative strategies for Kuwait’s digital and economic evolution.

Themed “Accelerating Technology and AI Implementation,” the event featured an exceptional lineup of speakers, including HE Omar Saud Alomar, Minister of State for Communication Affairs, who provided a keynote address on driving Kuwait’s digital transformation.
He stressed the Ministry’s efforts toward “building a digital Kuwait, leveraging technology to drive economic growth, improve quality of life, and achieve sustainable development, all in alignment with Kuwait’s Vision 2035.”

Mohammed Yousef Mulla Yaqoub, Assistant Director General for Business Development at KDIPA, stated that they “believe in the power of collaboration to unlock opportunities, and this gathering serves as a testament to the synergies that can emerge when public and private sectors come together with a shared vision.”

Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Jaber Al Sabah, Chairman of KBA, noted that, despite some challenges, such as regulation and data privacy, Kuwait has made “remarkable strides in adopting AI and Big Data technologies, with various sectors integrating AI into their operations.”

Other distinguished speakers included Mohammed Mulla Yaqoub, Deputy Director General for Business Development at KDIPA; Abdullah Khaled Al-Ajmi, Acting Chairman of CITRA; Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait; Esam Al-Kheshnam, CEO of KNET; Ammar Abdullah Boumijdad, Country Head of Mashreq Bank Kuwait; Mohammed Al-Kharafi, COO of NBK; Shaymaa Alterkait, Country Manager of Google Cloud; and Sundus Bushari, Managing Director of SAP Kuwait.

Key discussion points included strategies for leveraging digital payments, AI technologies, and innovative tools to drive economic growth, enhance sustainability, and improve workforce readiness. The dialogue fostered meaningful collaborations between the public and private sectors, emphasizing the need for a secure and inclusive approach to Kuwait’s digital transformation.

The event was made possible by the support of partners and sponsors including Zain, KBA, Mashreq, KNET, ITL World, and the Chairman’s Club.

This exclusive roundtable marks the beginning of a three-part series, with future events scheduled for January and February 2025.