Social Affairs Min: Gulf homes creativity platforms for promising projects

KUWAIT, Nov 30 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaila said Sunday that Gulf sons and daughters "no longer wait for opportunities, but create them with their own hands and turn them into a renewed economic reality".
This came in a speech by Dr. Al-Huwaila during the opening of the First Gulf Forum for Capacity-Building and Skills Development of Home-Based Entrepreneurs, hosted by the State of Kuwait over two days and jointly organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Executive Office of GCC Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs, and the Federation of GCC Chambers.
The minister stressed that Gulf homes are not merely living spaces but "creativity platforms" from which promising projects are launched.
Al-Huwaila said that the coming together of Gulf will and vision on Kuwaitآ’s soil is not only aimed at exchanging expertise, but also at "opening new horizons toward a future shaped by the synergy of minds, the dynamism of energies, and firm belief that Gulf youth are capable of surpassing the limits of what is possible." She added that experiences have shown that home-based projects are capable of growth and transformation into competitive economic entities, noting that the leaders of GCC states consistently affirm that these creative energies deserve support, sponsorship, and opportunities that match their ambitions.
She explained that amid rapid changes in which technology is reshaping the world, empowering home-based entrepreneurs with the tools of the age has become "a national duty and necessity," pointing out that the digital world is no longer an option but "the language of the future," and that those who master it possess the keys to the market and the ability to turn small projects into distinctive marks in the Gulf economy.
Al-Huwaila said that Kuwait is moving forward in providing specialized training, encouraging innovation, opening channels to digital markets, and facilitating procedures that support the growth of home-based projects, with the aim that every home-based entrepreneur becomes a partner in an innovation-driven economy built on honest work.
She noted that the presence of representatives from the GCC Executive Office and the Federation of GCC Chambers reflects a unified Gulf vision that believes home-based work can be a genuine economic contributor, where government support complements individual creativity.
The minister affirmed that efforts will continue to build an environment that strengthens trust, provides training, and opens windows to digital markets, granting Gulf youth a space to prove that creativity "does not require massive budgets, but sincere support and belief in human potential." For his part, Director-General of the Executive Office of GCC Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs Mohammad Al-Obaidli, praised in his speech Kuwaitآ’s distinguished role during its chairmanship of the GCC Social Affairs Committee, which he said formed a model of constructive cooperation and joint Gulf integration.
Al-Obaidli stressed that holding the forum comes at a time when the need is increasing to provide real empowerment pathways for home-based projects, which have become an important economic stream and an active element in supporting social sustainability and empowering Gulf families.
He considered the forum a "practical linking channel" between home-based entrepreneurs and the private sector, and an opportunity to expand the scope of investment through platforms for financing, training, digital marketing, and technical solutions, aiming to move these projects from a limited scope to regionally leading ventures that contribute to growth and competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary-General of the Federation of GCC Chambers, Noura Al-Salem, said in her speech on behalf of the Secretary-General that small and micro enterprises and productive families have become one of the main drivers of economic and social growth in GCC countries.
Al-Salem explained that the importance of these projects is not limited to providing jobs and sustainable income, but also extends to their central role in fostering innovation, empowering women, raising family economic participation, and creating new business models based on digital transformation.
She noted that the forum aims to establish an integrated Gulf platform that combines training, capacity-building, financing, and financial inclusion, in addition to benefitting from successful experiences, exchanging expertise, and strengthening partnerships between supporting and beneficiary entities.
Al-Salem added that the specialized sessions help to formulate a clear roadmap for transitioning small and micro projects from individual initiatives into an integrated economic system capable of competition and growth.
She pointed out that the Federation of GCC Chambers gives special priority to empowering these projects as an integral part of the Gulf private sector and a supporter of economic diversification plans, affirming full support for their integration into the digital economy to leverage the broad opportunities opened by rapid digital transformation in GCC countries to access markets and expand the base of beneficiaries.
The forumآ’s first day includes two panel discussions; the first highlights leading experiences in home-based projects and Gulf entrepreneurship, reviewing inspiring projects from each state and the challenges and opportunities to reach markets, while the second addresses areas of support and empowerment for home-based projects, where GCC social and development ministries present their leading experiences in this field.
On Monday, the forum will feature three working sessions: the first on "From home to market: Economic empowerment of home-based projects in the digital age"; the second discussing the role of GCC chambers of commerce in supporting emerging projects; and the third on "Sustainability of home-based projects", focusing on developing an enabling environment for these projects through marketing policies and commercial arbitration. (end) oys.mt