Kuwait Conference Focuses on Women’s Economic Role

Lei Wa Lakom opened the inaugural Women & the Economy Conference at the Grand Hyatt Kuwait. Policymakers, business leaders, investors and academics gathered to discuss women’s participation in the economy. The event took place under the patronage and attendance of Abdulaziz Nasser Al-Marzouq, Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, in collaboration with Kuwait University and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

Economic participation

Taiba Alhumaidhi, Founder of Lei Wa Lakom, began the conference with a keynote on why women’s economic inclusion is a national imperative. The minister then spoke to participants. Discussions explored women’s participation in the economy and how technology, finance and policy could widen it.

“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,” Abdulaziz Nasser Al-Marzouq said. He added: “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.”

Alhumaidhi said Kuwaiti women had “always been a cornerstone of the country's economic and development journey.” The conference, she said, aimed to bring policymakers, investors and business leaders together and share knowledge, strengthening Kuwait's position as a hub for inclusive economic dialogue.

She thanked the minister for his patronage and attendance, and thanked the sponsors and partners supporting the first edition. “We look forward to continuing the conversation on the second day and developing practical recommendations that create new opportunities and build strategic partnerships,” she said.

Business support and policy

National Bank of Kuwait announced NBK FoundHER, a programme presented by Maryam Al-Nasralla, AVP – Talent Management at NBK. It’s designed for Kuwaiti women who already own businesses, with training in finance, marketing, legal fundamentals, business growth and presentation skills, as well as access to experts and networking.

Participants will present growth plans to a panel of judges at the programme’s end. Selected projects will receive financial grants to put their plans into action.

The first panel, “Present-Day Realities,” looked at women’s economic participation in Kuwait, including challenges and success stories. Tareq Al-Saleh, Managing Director - Wealth Management at InvestGB, moderated the discussion. 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).

A second panel, “The Future of Women in the Economy,” considered artificial intelligence, fintech and policy. Ambassador Qudsi Rasheed, British Ambassador to Kuwait, moderated the session. 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 National Bank of Kuwait (NBK).

Next-day sessions

The conference was scheduled to continue the following day with a closed high-level roundtable at the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The session, titled “From Participation to Economic Contribution: Unlocking Women's Economic Potential in Kuwait,” was planned in collaboration with the Union of Investment Companies.

Organizers also planned a talk for students at Kuwait University. Its title was “Your Future, Your Money, Your Move: Jobs, AI, Money & the Decisions That Will Shape Your Next 10 Years.” The programme placed discussion of women’s economic participation alongside sessions on business development, emerging technology, finance and policy.