Al-Marouq: Industry is the Foundation for Building a Diversified Economy
“Excellence Award” Honors Winning Factories in Its Seventh Edition to Support Kuwaiti Products and Achieve Sustainable Development
By Najiha Bilal
Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs and Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, Abdulaziz Al-Marzouq, affirmed that the Kuwaiti industrial sector constitutes a fundamental pillar in building a diversified and sustainable economy by enhancing local production, raising the competitiveness of national products, and creating high-quality opportunities for national talents, in line with the aspirations of the State of Kuwait.
Speaking at the launch of the 7th edition of the Amir’s Industrial Excellence Award ceremony for 2025 yesterday, amidst high-level attendance from industrial leaders under the patronage of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister Al-Marzouq stated that competitiveness today is increasingly linked to innovation, technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability, while providing an attractive investment environment. He praised the award’s role in motivating enterprises and entrepreneurs to adopt best corporate practices.
For his part, Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Industry, Shamlan Hamoud Al-Jahdali, appreciated the high patronage, which reflects the continuous support of the wise leadership for the national industry. He explained that the Authority continues its efforts to provide an environment conducive to industrial growth, aligned with the country’s developmental directions. He noted that the award serves as a comprehensive platform for evaluation, continuous improvement, and enhancing enterprise efficiency, especially after the development of criteria for the 7th edition to keep pace with modern concepts of corporate excellence, thereby strengthening areas of sustainability, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence in the future of Kuwaiti industry.
Al-Jahdali added: “The industrial sector represents a fundamental pillar in diversifying the national economy and enhancing the competitiveness of Kuwaiti products. From this perspective, the Public Authority for Industry continues its efforts to support this sector and provide an environment conducive to growth and development, in line with the developmental directions of the State of Kuwait.”
He clarified that the importance of the award extends beyond honoring winners; it serves as a platform for evaluation and continuous improvement, helping enterprises identify development opportunities and enhance their capabilities. The award’s arrival at its seventh edition confirms its success and the continuity of its mission in supporting the Kuwaiti industrial sector.
He noted that the Authority took care in this edition to develop the award’s criteria to align with modern concepts of corporate excellence, based on the American Baldrige Performance Excellence Model, while emphasizing key areas for the future of industry, foremost among them being sustainability, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.
Winning Companies... Diversity in Sectors
The Kuwait Dairy Company won in the Food and Pharmaceutical Industries Sector category, and the Kuwaiti-Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries Company won in the same category. Additionally, the National Company for Chemical and Petrochemical Industries won in the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries Sector category, while Kuwaiti Modern Buildings Company (Kuwaiti Modern Buildings) won in the Metal Industries Sector category.
Kuwaiti Modern Buildings Company also won in the Encouragement Award for Environmental Management and Sustainability. Gulf Cables and Electrical Industries Group won in the Encouragement Award for Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence. Kuwaiti Industrial Gases for General Trading and Contracting won in the Industrial Entrepreneur category – First Place, while Nasser Al-Munaee and Sons for General Trading and Contracting won in the Industrial Entrepreneur category – Second Place.
Al-Jahdali: 120 Kuwaiti Factories’ Products for Export
Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Industry, Shamlan Hamoud Al-Jahdali, confirmed that the war in the region has affected the import of raw materials for various industries and global exports, except for exports to Gulf countries. He clarified that state support for Kuwaiti industry has helped it sustain its role under difficult circumstances, particularly regarding customs exemptions. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Industrial Excellence Awards ceremony, Al-Jahdali stated that the Public Authority for Industry has adopted a strategy approved by the Council of Ministers, aimed at revitalizing key economic sectors in collaboration with relevant authorities.
When asked about the ability of Kuwaiti industry to become one of the pillars of state revenue, Al-Jahdali noted that Kuwait currently has more than 120 factories for export. He emphasized that the country did not suffer from shortages of food and pharmaceuticals during wartime conditions, which underscores the government’s serious commitment to developing and advancing the industrial sector. Consequently, Kuwaiti industry will hold significant value in the future as a source supporting state revenues.
In response to another question from Al-Siyasah, he mentioned that the board of directors of the Public Authority for Industry has introduced new regulations to attract heavy and medium industries in cooperation with various state entities, adding that the outlines of this project will become evident by the end of this year.
