KUWAIT CITY, Oct 28: The State of Kuwait, represented by the National Fund for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises, hosted the Gulf Pioneers Forum, which was held Tuesday under the patronage of Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalifa Al-Ajeel. Undersecretary of the ministry Marwa Al-Jaidan attended the event, with the participation of a select group of entrepreneurs, experts and decision-makers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

In her opening speech, Director General of the Fund Eng. Basma Al-Jasser said the forum is an important Gulf event that brings together entrepreneurs with the aim of strengthening economic cooperation, empowering entrepreneurs, exchanging experiences, and presenting innovative ideas that build a prosperous entrepreneurial future. Al-Jasser asserted that since its establishment, the Fund has been keen on creating a nurturing environment for entrepreneurs through an integrated system of financial and non-financial services, which include marketing support, training, guidance and knowledge transfer, to establish an effective entrepreneurial culture. She added the forum is a strategic step towards supporting emerging projects, coinciding with the consultative meeting of the ministers of commerce and industry and entrepreneurs in the GCC countries, in cooperation with the GCC Secretariat General.

She explained that the objective is to enhance communication among entrepreneurs, explore opportunities for business expansion, and support shared success to build a Gulf generation capable of innovation, growth and facing market challenges. She stated that the forum intends to encourage dialogue and the exchange of experiences and ideas among entrepreneurs, and to provide a platform for communication and building strategic Gulf partnerships, which empower entrepreneurs and strengthen economic cooperation.

She underscored the importance of developing skills and building knowledge through interaction with experts and specialists in the field of entrepreneurship. She indicated that strengthening cooperation between Gulf entrepreneurship institutions is the optimal path towards building an innovative Gulf economy led by ambitious youths, emphasizing that the forum is a comprehensive Gulf platform for consolidating economic integration among the member states and opening the door for entrepreneurs to develop strategic partnerships and joint initiatives that increase the competitiveness of Gulf economies.

The forum included two workshops on presenting projects to investors and strategies for business expansion in the Gulf market using artificial intelligence, in addition to three discussion panels on various topics such as “Challenges and Opportunities for the Expansion of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Gulf Market,” “Strategies for Empowering Entrepreneurs and Building Public Relations Networks,” and “Gulf Economic Integration, Market Access and Government Support.”

The speakers affirmed that the forum embodies the objectives of Kuwait Vision 2035, which aims to transform the country into a regional and global financial and commercial hub that attracts investments, in which the private sector plays a leading role in economic activity within a stimulating institutional environment that supports human development and reinforces national values and social identity.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff