Overview
Kuwait is welcoming change under the new direction of Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the country aims to boost its regional competitiveness, streamline the regulatory environment, and incentivize the private sector.
On the ground, the public and private sectors are betting on innovation and doubling down on digitalization, working to stay at the cutting edge of AI, data analysis, and other emergent trends. Government strategy now focuses on reviving stalled projects and preparing blueprints for new ones, with new contracts being released and the acceleration of significant projects such as the Al Zour Refinery, the National Rail Road, and Mubarak Port.
Kuwait is advancing its economic growth by strategically attracting both domestic and international investments, particularly through focused FDI within a politically stable environment. The country’s commitment to innovation and digitalization is central to this progress, driving market transformation and aligning with broader national goals. The Kuwait Vision 2035, supported by the Master Plan 2040, outlined a comprehensive strategy that directs both the public and private sectors toward economic diversification, improved social services, and sustainable development.
Panels
Strategic Sectors and Areas to Foster investment
The importance of listing companies and the evolution of family businesses into publicly listed companies is crucial in Kuwait’s investment landscape. This discussion will explore the evolving foreign direct investment (FDI) landscape in Kuwait, emphasizing how investment drives economic growth in a stable political environment and a strong development agenda. Our panelists delved into innovative strategies aimed at enhancing the investment climate, exploring regulations that enable Kuwait’s economic progress and contribute to the achievement of Vision 2035.
Kuwait’s Industrial Evolution: Diversification and Sustainability as Pillars of Economic Resilience
Kuwait is reducing its reliance on oil by fostering a diverse industrial base while integrating sustainability into its growth strategy. Public and private sector collaboration is key to expanding industries, strengthening exports, and ensuring long-term resilience. At the same time, investments in renewable energy, emissions reduction, waste management, and automation are re-shaping Kuwait’s industrial landscape. This discussion explored how Kuwait can balance diversification and sustainability. What strategies can reduce oil dependency and enhance economic resilience? How can public-private collaboration drive industrial growth? What role do renewable energy and advanced technologies play in shaping a sustainable, competitive economy?
Speakers
HE Khalifa Abdullah Al Ajeel
Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Kuwait
HE Khalifa Abdullah Al Ajeel
Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Kuwait
His Excellency Khalifa Abdullah Al Ajeel, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Kuwait. Appointed as Minister in 2024, H.E. Al Ajeel brings over two decades of leadership in Kuwait’s financial oversight and investment landscape. From 2019 until his ministerial appointment, he served as Chairman of the Financial Controllers Authority with the rank of Minister. His previous roles include serving as a Board Member at the Capital Markets Authority, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asas Holding, and Managing Director at Al-Waseet Financial Services. He also held senior leadership roles at KAMFIK, one of Kuwait’s pioneering brokerage firms. H.E. Al Ajeel’s career reflects deep commitment to transparency, private sector development, and regulatory excellence—pillars central to Kuwait’s economic transformation.
Hamad Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq
Chairman of KBA & Chairman of KFH
Hamad Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq
Chairman of KBA & Chairman of KFH
Hamad Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq earned his BA in Industrial Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California in the US in 1985. He received his MA in International Finance and Business Management from Claremont Graduate University in the US in 1987. Al-Marzouq has diverse professional experience in banking and finance both in Kuwait and abroad spanning more than thirty years. He has served as Chairman of Kuwait Turk Participation Bank in Turkiye since 2015, Chairman of Ahli United Bank in Bahrain since 2023 and Chairman of KFH Egypt (formerly Ahli United Bank in Egypt) since 2023. Al-Marzouq has held many prominent positions in various banking, financial, and regulatory institutions. He has served as a board member of Kuwait Banking Association (KBA) since 2002, KBA Chairman from 2010 to 2016, board member of the Union of Arab Banks from 2003 to 2010, board member of the Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies (KIBS) from 2003 to 2014, member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Academy for Financial and Banking Sciences from 2004 to 2009, board member of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) from 2007 to 2016, Chairman and Managing Director of Ahli United Bank in Kuwait from 2002 to 2014, Vice Chairman of Ahli United Bank in the UK from 1998 to 2014, in Egypt from 2006 to 2014, in Bahrain from 2000 to 2014, and in Oman from 2007 to 2014, Vice Chairman of the formerly known Commercial Bank of Iraq from 2006 to 2014, Chairman of Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad from 2015 to 2016 and Chairman of Kuwait Finance House in Bahrain from 2015 to 2023. Al-Marzouq served as a board member, Vice Chairman, and Chairman of Kuwait and Middle East Financial Investment Company in Kuwait from 2002 to 2010.
Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Al Sabah
Chairman, Commercial Bank of Kuwait
Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Al Sabah
Chairman, Commercial Bank of Kuwait
Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Jaber Al Sabah has been Chairman of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait since 2018, after holding the position of vice chairman from 2015-2018 and board member from 2012-2015. He is also the Chairman of Kuwait Banking Association effective and became a member in World Union of Arab Bankers in 2022. Al Sabah has been a board member of Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies from 2018. He graduated with an MBA from the Maastricht School of Management after obtaining his bachelor’s degree in science with a major in finance from Bentley College in the US.
Khaled AlShamlan
Group CEO, KFH
Khaled AlShamlan
Group CEO, KFH
Khaled Yousef AlShamlan holds a BA in economics from Kuwait University and completed advanced training in leadership and risk management, including programs at Harvard Business School and the Kuwait Investment Authority. He became Group CEO of KFH in January 2025 and also serves as vice chairman of KFH Capital and board member at KNET and Ahli United Bank–Bahrain. With over 26 years in banking, he previously held senior roles at KFH, including group chief retail and private banking officer and general manager of corporate banking.
Faisal Sarkhou
Vice Chairman & CEO, Union of Investment Companies & KAMCO Invest
Faisal Sarkhou
Vice Chairman & CEO, Union of Investment Companies & KAMCO Invest
Faisal Mansour Sarkhou was appointed Group CEO of Kamco Invest in 2014. He has extensive experience in investment services namely investment banking and asset management and joined the company in 2000. He has held several managerial positions including head of corporate finance and head of financial services and investments. Earlier in his career Sarkhou was a member of the corporate finance team at KPMG in Kuwait. He sits on the board of several companies, is a member of advisory boards and executive committees, and is a prominent speaker at various investment forums. Sarkhou holds a BSc economics degree with honors from the University of Birmingham, UK and an EMBA with distinction from HEC Paris, France.
Abdulrahman Al-Khannah
Group CEO, BIG Holding
Abdulrahman Al-Khannah
Group CEO, BIG Holding
Abdulrahman Al-Khannah is an experienced CEO, heading BIG Holding and its subsidiaries. With over 16 years of experience, he has held positions on the boards of several companies and currently sits on the board of Imtiaz Investment Group – Kuwait. Al Khannah holds an MBA from Gulf University for Science & Technology and a bachelor of engineering (civil engineering) degree from the University of Kuwait. He has also taken various executive courses in strategy and leadership.
Waleed Al-Khashti
Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer Zain Kuwait
Waleed Al-Khashti
Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer Zain Kuwait
Waleed Al-Khashti currently serves as the Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer at Zain Kuwait, a role he has held since 2009. In this capacity, he oversees the company’s corporate affairs, media relations, corporate sustainability and social responsibility (CSSR), as well as its innovation and entrepreneurship strategies.
Over the past 16 years, Waleed has been instrumental in shaping Zain’s public relations vision. His leadership has been key in building the company’s integrated CSSR and sustainability strategies, which prioritize societal wellbeing across key sectors such as healthcare, youth development, education, sports, special needs, humanitarian aid, and environmental sustainability.
Khalifah Al-Yaqout
Managing Partner, YFLG
Khalifah Al-Yaqout
Managing Partner, YFLG
Khalifah Al Yaqout is the managing partner at Al Yaqout and Al Fouzan Legal Group. He is an experienced litigator, with the right of audience before the Court of Cassation. In addition to his managerial role at the firm, Khalifah frequently advises and litigates on behalf of clients in relation to commercial, civil and administrative cases. Furthermore, he is also an arbitrator in the Kuwaiti International Chamber of Arbitration, as well as a consultant to the Minister of Social Affairs. Previously, he was also a consultant to the Minister of Electricity and Water and the Minister of Commerce and Industry. Al Yaqout is a recommended lawyer by Legal500 in Kuwait.
Rashed Al Munae
CEO, United Beverage Company K.S.C.C (UNIBEV)
Rashed Al Munae
CEO, United Beverage Company K.S.C.C (UNIBEV)
Rashed Almunae is the CEO of United Beverage Company, PepsiCo’s exclusive bottler and distributor in Kuwait. With over 24 years of experience across IT, petrochemicals, and F&B, he brings a results-driven approach focused on sustainability, innovation, and inclusive growth. Holding a BA in computer engineering from Arizona State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, he began his career in tech before moving into sales leadership at EQUATE Petrochemicals, managing a USD500 million portfolio. Since joining United Beverage in 2016, he has led a push for sustainable manufacturing and operational excellence. Key achievements under his leadership include reaching net zero solid waste to landfill and launching Kuwait’s first 100% recycled plastic pallet initiative. He is committed to building future-ready organizations that create long-term value for both shareholders and society.
Ahmed Al-Kharafi
CEO, Al-Adan Holding & Oula Steel
Ahmed Al-Kharafi
CEO, Al-Adan Holding & Oula Steel
Ahmed Al-Kharafi, CEO of Al-Adan Holding, is a driving force behind Kuwait’s industrial growth, leading innovation and sustainability in the steel and metallurgical sectors.
Anne Koistinen
Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to the State of Kuwait
Anne Koistinen
Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to the State of Kuwait
Anne Koistinen has served as the EU Ambassador to Kuwait since 2023. Prior to this, she was deputy head of division in the Integrated Approach for Security and Peace at the European External Action Service (EEAS). She also chaired the Steering Committee of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), which trains EU officials in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). With over 20 years of experience in EU external relations, she has held senior roles in the EEAS and the European Commission, focusing on foreign and security policy, crisis management, and civilian CSDP missions. Her previous posts include Head of Political Section at the EU Delegation to Egypt and the League of Arab States, and Head of the Human Rights Section at the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva. She holds a master of social sciences from the University of Tampere, Finland.
Ioana Krempanszky Popa
CCO, The Business Year
Ioana Krempanszky Popa
CCO, The Business Year
Ioana Krempanszky Popa is The Regional Director for Middle East for The Business Year, where she has been working for the past 6 years. She has successfully created partnerships with the worlds' largest entities in highly competitive markets, and lead teams to complete successful projects in several countries, such as the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Jamaica, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Nigeria. She graduated from the University of Vienna, Austria, with a Master's Degree in Cognitive Science, majoring in behavioral economics.
Augustina Dal Fabbro
Kuwait Country Manager, The Business Year
Augustina Dal Fabbro
Kuwait Country Manager, The Business Year
Agustina Dal Fabbro has a wealth of experience across various industries, showcasing strong leadership and expertise in project management, customer service, and marketing. As the Country Manager & Project Director for The Business Year in Colombia, Egypt, and Kuwait, she demonstrated exceptional market penetration skills, securing lucrative deals and orchestrating successful events that drove substantial revenue growth. Her tenure at Majorel and Sunscape Akumal highlighted her ability to deliver high customer satisfaction consistently. Previously, she excelled in team management and operations roles at Ocean Tours and Alex's Stake Restaurant. She holds a bachelor's in economics and management and a MSc in marketing management from Bocconi University.
Silvia Lambiase
Senior Country Editor, The Business Year
Silvia Lambiase
Senior Country Editor, The Business Year
Silvia Lambiase is Senior Country Editor at The Business Year. She has wide-ranging experience working in economic analysis, media, business development, and marketing in various countries, including the UK, Nigeria, the UAE, Oman, and Kazakhstan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international economic relations from La Sapienza University of Rome and an MSc in economics and finance from the University of Liverpool.
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