Kuwait Opens Women & Economy Forum Under State Backing

Abdulaziz Nasser Al-Marzouq, Kuwait's Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, put the weight of the state behind a new push for women's economic inclusion this week, as he patronized and attended the inaugural Women & the Economy Conference at the Grand Hyatt Kuwait. Lei Wa Lakom, a Kuwait-based nonprofit focused on financial awareness, knowledge-sharing and community development, organized the event in collaboration with Kuwait University and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

The gathering focused on practical economics, not rhetoric. Policymakers, CEOs, global experts, investors, academics and emerging women leaders from Kuwait and abroad met to discuss how technology, finance and policy could expand women's participation in the economy.

The State's Stated Strategy

Al-Marzouq linked the conference directly to national economic planning. "Our patronage of the Women & the Economy Conference reflects the State's commitment to women's economic empowerment as a key pillar of a more competitive and diversified national economy, in line with New Kuwait Vision 2035," he said.

He also praised Kuwaiti women's record. "Kuwaiti women have proven their capability and their ability to contribute effectively across all sectors, and we are confident that dialogue bringing together government, the private sector, and academia will help create new opportunities that strengthen their role in Kuwait's development," Al-Marzouq said.

Taiba Alhumaidhi, Founder of Lei Wa Lakom, opened the conference with a keynote arguing that women's economic inclusion is a national imperative. "Kuwaiti women have always been a cornerstone of the country's economic and development journey," she said. The aim, she added, is "to bring together policymakers, investors, and business leaders to build connections and share knowledge, strengthening Kuwait's position as a hub for inclusive economic dialogue." She thanked the minister, sponsors and partners who backed the first edition.

Capital and Corporate Commitments

The private sector brought concrete offers. National Bank of Kuwait announced NBK FoundHER, which Maryam Al-Nasralla, AVP – Talent Management at NBK, presented. The programme supports Kuwaiti women who already own businesses with training in finance, marketing, legal fundamentals, business growth and presentation skills, along with access to experts and networking. Participants will present growth plans to a panel of judges at the end. Selected projects will receive financial grants to carry out those plans.

The first panel, "Present-Day Realities," was moderated by Tareq Al-Saleh, Managing Director - Wealth Management at InvestGB. It examined women's economic participation in Kuwait, including challenges and success stories. Panelists were Badria Alhumaidhi, CEO of Boubyan Capital; Bibi Marafie, Director of the One Stop Shop Department at the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA); Shaikha AlMugahwi, Executive Manager Premium Sales at Kuwait Finance House (KFH); and Lulwa AlFouzan, Vice President Human Resources at Kuwait Investment Company (KIC).

The second panel, "The Future of Women in the Economy," had Ambassador Qudsi Rasheed, British Ambassador to Kuwait, as moderator. The discussion covered artificial intelligence, fintech and policy. Panelists included Henadi Alsaleh, CEO of Agility; Kriti Gupta, Executive Director and Global Investment Strategist at JP Morgan; Satoko Nozaki, Digital & IT Director at IKEA; and Amal Al-Duwaisan, SVP of the Digital Banking Group at NBK.

What Comes Next

Organizers scheduled a closed high-level roundtable for the following day, titled "From Participation to Economic Contribution: Unlocking Women's Economic Potential in Kuwait." It will take place at the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Union of Investment Companies. They also planned a talk for students at Kuwait University, titled "Your Future, Your Money, Your Move: Jobs, AI, Money & the Decisions That Will Shape Your Next 10 Years." Alhumaidhi said organizers hope to develop "practical recommendations that create new opportunities and build strategic partnerships."

Why This Matters: Kuwait's government frames women's economic participation as a pillar of diversification under New Kuwait Vision 2035, not a social add-on. Gulf states that broaden their workforces and private-sector bases build economic resilience, and stable, diversified economies are better positioned to anchor a region facing pressure from Iranian-backed proxy networks and unstable neighbors. From this perspective, state-backed, bank-funded programs like NBK FoundHER show a model of development driven by institutions and investment rather than ideology. The real test is whether the conference's recommendations become policy.