The inaugural event of the Thought Leadership Circle series, co-hosted by the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and The Business Year (TBY), took place on Tuesday at the prestigious Chairman’s Club in KIPCO Tower. The event brought together visionary leaders and innovators to discuss strategies for accelerating Kuwait’s digital and economic evolution.
Themed “Accelerating Technology and AI Implementation,” the event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Omar Saud Al-Omar, Minister of State for Communication Affairs, who delivered the keynote address on driving Kuwait’s digital transformation. Al-Omar highlighted the Ministry’s initiatives to “build a Digital Kuwait,” emphasizing the role of technology in driving economic growth, improving quality of life, and supporting sustainable development, all in line with Kuwait’s Vision 2035.
During the welcoming remarks, Mohammed Yousef Mulla Yaqoub, Assistant Director General for Business Development at KDIPA, stressed the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in achieving transformative growth. He remarked, “KDIPA firmly believes in the transformative power of collaboration to unlock opportunities. This gathering exemplifies the synergies that can be realized when both sectors unite with a common vision.”
Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Jaber Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA), acknowledged Kuwait’s significant progress in adopting AI and Big Data technologies, despite challenges such as regulation and data privacy. He noted that various sectors are successfully integrating AI into their operations.
Other distinguished speakers included Eng. Abdullah Khaled Al-Ajmi, Acting Chairman of CITRA; Hessah Al-Muzaini, Manager of Information Systems and Operations at the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK); 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 Al-Terkait, Country Manager of Google Cloud; and Sundus Bushahri, Managing Director of SAP Kuwait.
Key discussions centered on strategies for leveraging digital payments, AI technologies, and innovative tools to stimulate economic growth, promote sustainability, and enhance workforce readiness. The event fostered meaningful collaborations, emphasizing the need for a secure and inclusive approach to Kuwait’s digital transformation.
The event was made possible with the support of partners and sponsors, including Zain, KBA, Mashreq, KNET, ITL World, and the Chairman’s Club.
This roundtable marks the beginning of a three-part series, with additional events scheduled for January and February 2025.
