KUWAIT: Zain announced its strategic partnership with the 9th EU GCC Business Forum, hosted in the State of Kuwait and organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the European Union, in partnership with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), under the patronage and presence of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Zain took part in the opening ceremony held at Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center, which was attended by Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, and the Acting Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Dr Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, Jasem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director-General of KDIPA.
The ceremony was also attended by Hamad Al-Marzouq, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Zain Kuwait, Meshal Al-Kandari, Chief Commercial Officer, Malek Jaber Al-Sabah, Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer, and Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer. This strategic partnership extends Zain’s efforts to reinforce Kuwait’s position as a regional economic hub built on innovation and technology, a path the company has championed through its various partnerships over the past years.
Zain’s participation reflects its efforts to advance toward a diversified economy built on digital innovation.
Zain’s participation reflects its national role in connecting investment opportunities with digital technologies and advancing toward a diversified, knowledge-based economy that enhances Kuwait’s competitiveness at the regional and global levels. The forum provided a practical platform to build bridges between GCC and EU institutions. Through Zain’s expertise and partnerships with global technology leaders, the company helps drive high-quality investments that deliver value to productive sectors and accelerate responsible digital transformation.
Zain firmly believes that real investment in the future begins with investing in national talent. The company will continue working with its partners to enhance digital skills, empower entrepreneurs, and support startups, which directly contributes to economic diversification and productivity growth, while reinforcing Kuwait’s position as a regional center for technology.
On the sidelines of the forum, Zain showcased at its booth the Group’s 4WARD strategy -Progress with Purpose, through which it aims to build the largest TechCo conglomerate in Middle East and Africa markets and drive the Group’s purpose of “Better Lives, Lasting Connections.” In addition, the Enterprise Business team was on hand to explore collaboration opportunities between Zain and participating institutions.
The forum was held under the theme Together for Shared Prosperity, with high-level participation from institutions of the European Union and the GCC, alongside senior government leaders and economic and investment entities. The event underlined avenues of cooperation between GCC states and the EU through focused sessions covering trade and investment, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, skills development and support for SMEs, and explored new prospects for collaboration in tourism, health, education, and the creative industries.
A series of business meetings and panel discussions were also held, most notably a high-level session on the strategic partnership between the GCC and the European Union, titled Bridging Economies, Building Futures. The 9th EU GCC Business Forum offered a practical opportunity to accelerate public-private partnerships, attract high-quality investments, and align perspectives on digital transformation priorities in the region, with positive impact on quality of life and shared prosperity.
