Kuwait Finance House Empowers Small and Medium Enterprises to Integrate Sustainability into Their Operations

For the second consecutive year, Kuwait Finance House (KFH) continues to organize the “Business Sustainability” program, designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), marking the first initiative of its kind within the Kuwaiti banking sector. The program aligns with the bank’s vision to enhance sustainable development and consolidate its leading role in supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem, empowering SME owners to achieve sustainable growth.

The program aims to assist participating companies in integrating sustainability principles into their operational processes, strategies, and business models, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and ensuring the sustainability of their growth. It also reflects KFH’s commitment to strengthening its relationships with clients from this segment and providing added value through distinctive initiatives and modern, effective channels.

Yousef Al-Mutawa, Head of Corporate Banking Services at KFH Group, said during the program’s launch: “Through the comprehensive financing and banking solutions it provides, KFH has successfully consolidated its position as a key partner for companies of all sizes and sectors, relying on a diversified financing portfolio that covers multiple vital economic sectors.”

Al-Mutawa added that the bank places exceptional emphasis on SMEs, driven by its belief in their pivotal role in supporting sustainable economic growth, creating job opportunities, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He emphasized that these efforts reflect KFH’s commitment to its economic and developmental responsibilities, and its role in supporting development projects in Kuwait. He noted the bank’s pioneering status as the first financial institution to establish a specialized department for SME financing, offering them a comprehensive suite of financing and banking solutions, alongside knowledge exchange and guidance to support their business growth.

For his part, Zain Al-Abidin Itani, Acting Deputy General Manager of SMEs at KFH, affirmed that the second edition of the “Business Sustainability” program embodies the bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting the development and growth of the SME sector in Kuwait, and enhancing the added value of their business models by embedding sustainability concepts, which have become a fundamental element of modern business success.

Itani pointed out that KFH has succeeded, thanks to its pioneering expertise in Islamic finance, in providing an integrated system of banking and financing solutions specifically designed for this segment. These include cash-based financing such as Murabaha, Tawarruq, and Ijarah, as well as non-cash solutions like guarantee letters and letters of credit, in addition to digital banking services that facilitate business management and enhance operational efficiency. He added that the bank’s role extends beyond financing to include providing consultations, exchanging expertise, and contributing to supporting clients in achieving sustainable growth and expansion.

In his speech at the program’s launch, Mohammed Al-Arabid, Executive Director of Governance and Sustainability at KFH, welcomed the participants, emphasizing that the program reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting its clients and partners and enabling them to benefit from best practices in sustainability.

Al-Arabid said: “We are pleased to organize the second edition of the ‘Business Sustainability’ program for the SME segment, based on our conviction of the importance of sustainability as one of the main drivers of business success and competitiveness, and our appreciation of the vital role played by SMEs as one of the fundamental pillars of the national economy.”

He clarified that sustainability is no longer a theoretical concept, but has become an influential factor in enhancing companies’ readiness and credibility, boosting their competitiveness, and improving their long-term performance. He added that KFH aims through the program to enable its clients and partners to adopt practical and applicable sustainability practices that help them build clear strategies to achieve their goals and enhance opportunities for sustainable growth.

Al-Arabid noted that the program was developed and designed entirely based on KFH’s practical experiences and accumulated expertise in the field of sustainability, with the aim of transferring this knowledge directly to clients to maximize the benefits for them.