KUWAIT CITY, Nov 4:  Zain, Kuwait's leading technology innovator, sponsored the 11th e-Government Forum under the theme Digital Government and Integrated Service Strategy, organized by the Kuwait Federation of Engineering Offices and Consulting Houses in collaboration with the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT), under the patronage of H.E. Minister of State for Telecommunications Affairs, Omar Al-Omar.

Zain participated in the forum’s opening ceremony alongside prominent officials from both the public and private sectors. The company’s support to the event aligns with its strategy to bolster the national economy and highlight the private sector’s role in advancing state-led digital transformation initiatives.

The company’s participation underscores the spirit of cooperation between the public and private sectors, combining efforts to drive economic growth. As a strategic partner to government bodies, Zain is deeply invested in national development plans, believing that future-focused investments are key to addressing upcoming challenges.

Notable attendees included the forum’s patron representative, Abdullah Al-Ajmi, Acting Chairman of the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA); Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait; Hamad Al-Marzouq, Chief Enterprise Business Officer; Meshal Al-Kandari, Chief Commercial Officer; and Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer.

Additional attendees included Fatima Al-Qallaf, Head of Partnerships and Events at CAIT; Bader Al-Salman, President of the Kuwait Federation of Engineering Offices and Consulting Houses; Hannes Astok, Chairman of Estonia’s e-Governance Academy; Shaima Al-Terkait, Country Manager of Google Cloud Kuwait; and Sundus Boushehri, Executive Director of SAP Kuwait.

Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait, stated: “The strong link between economic growth and state projects encourages increased cooperation between government institutions and the private sector to achieve developmental goals. This forum showcases a vision of genuine collaboration and partnership.”

Al-Gharabally added: “Government initiatives to stimulate the economy are the driving force in aligning private sector efforts with sustainable development goals. In this regard, Zain is committed to elevating its strategic partnership with the public sector to support the nation’s strategic priorities, strengthening Kuwait’s competitiveness as a financial and commercial hub.”

He continued: “The lines between public and private institutions have blurred with the private sector’s growing role in national development. Amid today’s rapid global economic shifts and reliance on digital services, strategic partnerships with the public sector are vital to building a diversified knowledge-based economy.”

Al-Gharabally also noted: “Technology has become the backbone of successful, sustainable governance, with digital transformation essential to government service infrastructure. Digital platforms are now citizens' primary channel for services, and there’s great value in such platforms like this forum to encourage experience sharing and best practices and advance digital integration in the public sector.”

During the ceremony, Hamad Al-Marzouq, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Zain Kuwait, delivered an opening speech, saying: “We are delighted to support and partner with the 11th e-Government Forum, a key platform that annually unites decision-makers and specialists from both sectors to share expertise and contribute to mutual developmental objectives.”

He continued, “In recent years, e-government services in Kuwait have seen remarkable improvements with tangible results, thanks to digital transformation strategies and the extensive efforts of state institutions under the wise vision of the nation’s leadership.”

Al-Marzouq highlighted the successful growth of the Sahel app, which has offered a seamless digital experience to citizens and residents by connecting various government entities, enabling faster service completion with over 60 million transactions processed since its launch.

He further added, “This digital transformation has shifted government services to be citizen-centric, unlike in the past. Technology has provided a unified platform for citizens, supporting the overarching goal of citizen convenience.”

He also acknowledged the impact of Sahel Business, which has enhanced Kuwait’s business environment, reduced bureaucracy, streamlined processes, and empowered entrepreneurs and startups to achieve sustainable success.

Al-Marzouq reaffirmed Zain’s support for the public sector, stating, “Our early investment in emerging technologies such as AI has positioned Zain as a leading strategic partner in the government’s digital transformation efforts, contributing to the ‘New Kuwait 2035’ vision and economic growth. The private sector is integral to local development plans.”

He explained, “We work closely with global tech leaders like Google Cloud, Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon to realize this vision. Such partnerships form a strategic blueprint to advance Kuwait’s tech landscape, requiring joint public-private collaboration.”

He concluded: “Cybersecurity strategies are also crucial to counter the growing digital threats targeting individuals, governments, and organizations alike, and I appreciate the forum’s focus on this significant aspect.”

At the forum, Zain showcases its latest digital solutions for the business sector, including AI-powered drones, cloud solutions, and more. Zain also participates in discussions on data governance, inter-agency data sharing, and maximizing returns from tech investments.

As a digital services leader, Zain is committed to leveraging technology and AI to lead digital transformation and foster innovation. Zain’s business portfolio offers comprehensive solutions, including cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI-powered drones, 5G connectivity, and other advanced technologies to meet the needs of public and private institutions, driving economic growth and supporting national development goals.

The e-Government Forum runs for three days, bringing together major digital service providers, telecom and IT companies from Kuwait, the region, and beyond, with over 500 attendees, 30 speakers, 25 sponsors, and 20 presentations, along with government partners and interactive panels.

Each year, the forum discusses pathways to enable Kuwait’s government institutions to transition toward an advanced digital governance model, establishing an integrated, efficient system through digital transformation and eliminating bureaucratic obstacles.

This year, the forum features a distinguished participation from Estonia’s e-Governance Academy (eGA), a digital society leader. Since 2002, eGA has partnered with over 290 organizations in 143 countries to build open, democratic digital societies, enhancing citizens’ quality of life and supporting transparent governance worldwide.