Launch of 'Women and the Economy' Conference Under the Patronage and Attendance of the Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment

“Li Wa Lakum,” a Kuwaiti non-profit initiative dedicated to empowering individuals through financial awareness, knowledge sharing, and community development, announced today the launch of the first edition of the “Women and the Economy” conference at the Grand Hyatt Kuwait Hotel. The event was held under the patronage and attendance of His Excellency Mr. 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.

The conference was opened by Ms. Taiba Al-Humaidi, founder of the “Li Wa Lakum” initiative, with a keynote speech on the importance of women’s economic inclusion as a national priority, followed by remarks from His Excellency the Minister. 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.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Nasser Al-Marzouq, Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, stated: “Our patronage of the ‘Women and the Economy’ conference reflects the state’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment as a fundamental pillar for building a more competitive and diversified national economy, in line with the New Kuwait Vision 2035. Kuwaiti women have proven their competence and ability to make active contributions across various sectors. We are confident that the dialogue bringing together government entities, the private sector, and academia will help create new opportunities that enhance their role in the development process.”

For her part, Ms. Taiba 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 position as a hub for comprehensive economic dialogue. On this occasion, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency the Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment for his kind 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 first edition of the conference. We look forward to continuing the conference’s work on the second day and formulating practical recommendations that contribute to creating more opportunities and building strategic partnerships.”

The conference witnessed the announcement by National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) of the launch of the NBK FoundHER program, which was presented by Ms. Mariam Al-Nassrallah, Assistant Vice President – Talent Management at the bank. The program aims to support Kuwaiti female entrepreneurs with existing businesses through a practical training phase covering financial, marketing, and legal aspects, business development, presentation skills, as well as leveraging expert knowledge and building professional networks. At the end 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.

The first panel discussion, titled “Current Reality,” reviewed the current state of women’s economic participation in Kuwait, along with challenges and success stories. The panel featured Ms. Badriya Al-Humaidi, CEO of Boubian Capital; Ms. Bibi Maaref, Director of the Single Window Department at the Direct Investment Promotion Authority; Ms. Sheikha Al-Maqahwi, Executive Director of Premium Sales at Kuwait Finance House; and Ms. Lulwa Al-Fouzan, Vice President of Human Resources Management at Kuwait Investment Company. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Tariq Al-Saleh from Invest GP.

The second session, titled “The Future of Women in the Economy,” chaired by His Excellency Mr. Qadsi Rashid, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Kuwait, examined the role of artificial intelligence, fintech, and policies in building a more inclusive economy. The session featured Ms. Hanaa Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Agility; Ms. Kriti Gupta, Managing Director and Global Investment Expert at JPMorgan; Ms. Satoko Nozaki, Director of Digitalization and Information Technology at IKEA; and Ms. Amal Al-Duwisan, Executive Vice President for Digital Banking Services at National Bank of Kuwait. This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Greg B. Davies, Head of Behavioral Finance at Oxford Risk, on behavioral finance and making better financial decisions.

The conference will continue tomorrow with a high-level closed roundtable titled “From Participation to Economic Contribution: Unlocking Women’s Economic Potential in Kuwait,” hosted by the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Investment Companies Union. This will be followed by a student engagement session at Kuwait University titled “Your Future, Your Money, Your Decision: Careers, Artificial Intelligence, Money, and the Choices That Will Shape Your Next Ten Years.”