KIB Strengthens Its Commitment to Social Responsibility via 'Move & Build' Event

Reaffirming its ongoing commitment to empowering Kuwaiti entrepreneurs and strengthening the local business community, Kuwait International Bank (KIB), through its Business Center—a hub specialized in incubating and accelerating the growth of startups—hosted the “Move & Build” event. This interactive gathering brought together a select group of sports club owners, fitness studio operators, and wellness centers from across Kuwait for networking and knowledge exchange.

The event, held at the Business Center, is part of the bank’s comprehensive corporate social responsibility efforts, aimed at providing a platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing within the sector, and supporting business development that contributes to sustainable economic growth. The event enabled participants to access specialized market data and insights, benefit from their peers’ experiences, and exchange views, helping them identify emerging opportunities in their sector.

Commenting on the occasion, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Assistant General Manager of Retail Banking at KIB, said: “Our role in serving the business community and entrepreneurs in Kuwait goes beyond providing banking solutions. We believe that the growth and development of local businesses are fundamental pillars in building a stronger and more sustainable business ecosystem. Local business owners play a pivotal role in stimulating economic activity, creating jobs, and fostering innovation, which ultimately enhances the economy’s resilience and growth. Through our corporate banking services and initiatives like ‘Move & Build,’ we strive to provide business owners with financial solutions tailored to their needs, alongside the knowledge, insights, and connections they seek to explore growth opportunities and build their business futures.”

The “Move & Build” event was organized in collaboration with strategic partner Boutique and EXCPR for Consulting and Business Management (the data partner). The aim was to enhance networking among entrepreneurs operating in various segments of Kuwait’s growing fitness and wellness sector, including CrossFit, strength training, Pilates, Reformer, yoga, and various forms of fitness, as well as rehabilitation and physical therapy. The event also provided participants with exclusive data and analysis on the local market for the sector, facilitated the exchange of experiences, and allowed for discussions on common challenges faced by business owners, enabling them to build new relationships and expand their professional networks within the industry.

On his part, Hamad Al-Awfan, Manager in the Corporate Banking Department, stated: “At the Center, we leverage our proximity to the bank’s corporate banking clients to deliver experiences and initiatives that serve the reality of business management and development in Kuwait. The ‘Move & Build’ event embodies this approach by providing a specialized space that highlights a rapidly evolving sector and addresses the key issues and challenges relevant to business owners within it. This closeness also allows us to understand the factors influencing our clients’ businesses more deeply and to continue developing high-quality, relevant initiatives that meet their ambitions and changing needs.”

Ali Al-Tayer, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications at Boutique, stated that the fruitful cooperation with KIB reflects Boutique’s commitment to building sustainable community partnerships aligned with its vision of supporting a better future. He noted that this collaboration provided an opportunity to exchange views and expertise on major shifts in consumer behavior and lifestyle patterns, and to highlight their impact on the fitness and health sectors. Al-Tayer explained that the meeting offered a space for direct dialogue with business owners and professionals in the fitness and health sectors to discuss changing consumer aspirations and needs, and the importance of developing services and experiences in line with these transformations. He emphasized that Boutique continues to support initiatives that bring together various sectors around common goals, contributing to knowledge exchange and enhancing companies’ ability to understand their customers and respond to their evolving requirements, thereby supporting the growth of vital sectors and serving society sustainably.

In the same context, Naif Bastaki, CEO of EXCPR, said: “We are honored to collaborate with KIB through its Business Center at the ‘Move & Build’ event, contributing our market expertise in an initiative that places relevant insights and data at the disposal of Kuwaiti business owners. The event provided business owners in the fitness and wellness sector with a deeper understanding of customer behavior, competitive dynamics, and factors influencing pricing and customer retention decisions. We believe that combining relevant data with direct communication gives business owners greater confidence when planning for sustainable growth.”