KUWAIT, Dec 1 (KUNA) -- Minister of State for Communications Affairs Omar Al-Omar on Monday emphasized the State of Kuwait Government commitment to advancing the national digital infrastructure and regulatory readiness.
Minister Al-Omar, who hosted a conversation grouping private and public sectors' leaders, stated, "As we transform Kuwait's digital landscape, we must ensure institutional alignment, infrastructure strength, and public-private synergy to unlock the true potential of our economy," he said.
The gathering; "The second phase of the Thought Leadership Circle: Reshaping the Digital Landscape," was co-hosted by Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and The Business Year (TBY).
The event, held at the Chairman's Club, KIPCO Tower, brought together a powerhouse lineup of public and private sector leaders to explore Kuwait's ambition to position itself as a regional integrated hub for digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
Key speakers included Dr. Khaled Mohammad Al-Zamel of Chairman the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), Abeer Al-Awadhi, Chief of the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), Muataz Abdullah Al-Dharrab, CEO of stc Kuwait (Kuwait Telecommunications Company), Alaeddine Karim, Country General Manager at Microsoft Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmea Duaij Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Bader Al-Ghanim, VP and Managing Director of Talabat Kuwait, Fahad Al-Menayes, Acting CEO of the International Turnkey Systems (its) and Sulaiman Al-Arouj, Executive Chairman of the Empower State Holdings.
The event explored five strategic areas shaping Kuwait's digital trajectory. It started with Foundations of a Regional Digital Hub: Discussions focused on integration of services, data, and infrastructure. The need for interoperable ecosystems and regulatory strategies to enable scalable digital growth.
Investing in talent and ecosystems was also discussed with the goal of attracting global tech giants; panelists discussed the urgency of digital skills development and workforce readiness. "We must prepare our people for the future as much as our systems," noted Alaeddine Karim of Microsoft Kuwait.
Continued with Strategic Collaborations and AI Readiness: Leaders shared their ongoing partnerships and reflected on Kuwait's AI-readiness. "At stc, we see AI, smart systems, and secure data environments as core enablers of this transformation. Our efforts are aligned with national priorities, and we can assist in the acceleration of Kuwait's digital agenda and strengthen its position as a leading technology driven economy," noted Al-Dharrab of stc.
Then, Smart Infrastructure and Cybersecurity: Participants explored how smart infrastructure can support fintech and national services. NSCS raised emerging threat concerns while Talabat outlined its robust cybersecurity practices. "Digital trust is foundational to everything we build," said Bader Al-Ghanim of Talabat.
Lastly, Policy and Future Milestones: The minister concluded the day by outlining the government's top priorities for 2026, including regulatory modernization, workforce programs, and expanded investment incentives. (end) khm.rk