Abdulaziz Al-Marzouq: Women's economic empowerment is a cornerstone for building a more competitive and diversified national economy

State Minister for Economic Affairs and Investment and Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, Abdulaziz Al-Marzouq, stated that Kuwaiti women have proven their competence and ability to make active contributions across various sectors, adding, “We are confident that the dialogue bringing together government entities, the private sector, and academic circles will help create new opportunities that enhance their role in the development process.”

This came during his participation in the inaugural edition of the “Women and the Economy” conference held at the Grand Hyatt Kuwait Hotel. The event is organized by “Li Wa Lakum,” a Kuwaiti non-profit initiative focused on empowering individuals through financial awareness, knowledge sharing, and community development. The conference was held under the patronage and attendance of the State Minister for Economic Affairs and Investment, in collaboration with Kuwait University and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.

Al-Marzouq further remarked, “Our patronage of the ‘Women and the Economy’ conference reflects the state’s commitment to empowering women economically, as a fundamental pillar for building a more competitive and diversified national economy, in line with the new Kuwait Vision 2035.”

The conference brought together policymakers, chief executive officers, global experts, investors, academics, and emerging female leaders from within Kuwait and abroad to discuss the current state of women’s economic participation and the role of technology, finance, and policies in expanding it.

For her part, Tiba Al-Humaidi, founder of the “Li Wa Lakum” initiative, said, “Kuwaiti women have long been a fundamental pillar in the state’s developmental and economic transformation. Through the ‘Women and the Economy’ conference, we aim to bring together policymakers, investors, and business leaders to enhance communication and knowledge exchange, thereby reinforcing Kuwait’s presence as a hub for comprehensive economic dialogue. On this occasion, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the State Minister for Economic Affairs and Investment for his gracious patronage and for honoring us with his presence. I also thank all the conference sponsors and partners for their support and contributions to the success of the inaugural edition. We look forward to continuing the conference’s proceedings on the second day and formulating practical recommendations that will help create more opportunities and build strategic partnerships.”

The conference also witnessed the announcement by National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) of the launch of the NBK FoundHER program, presented by Mariam Al-Nassrallah, Assistant Vice President in the Bank’s Talent Management Department. The program aims to support Kuwaiti female entrepreneurs with existing businesses through a practical training phase covering financial, marketing, legal, and business development aspects, as well as presentation skills, alongside benefiting from experts’ expertise and building professional networks. At the conclusion of the program, participants will present their business development plans before a specialized jury, with selected projects receiving financial grants to support the implementation of these plans.