KUWAIT CITY, November 2: Zain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at leading the development of the creative economy in Kuwait. The partners will launch joint initiatives and programs to nurture a thriving ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The MoU was signed at the Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) in the company’s headquarters in Shuwaikh, attended by Zain Kuwait CEO Nawaf Al Gharabally, NCCAL Secretary-General Dr. Mohammad Al Jassar, and senior officials from both partners.

This collaboration reflects Zain and NCCAL’s shared vision of advancing Kuwait's innovation landscape by bolstering the creative economy. It illustrates a commitment to leveraging both public and private sector efforts to support national development goals, particularly by investing in the human capital.

The MoU’s objectives include leading initiatives to support the development of science, technology, and innovation to contribute to establishing a resilient, creative ecosystem capable of positively impacting Kuwait's social, cultural, and economic growth.

Both parties will jointly launch initiatives aimed at supporting the labor market, building creative capacities, supporting research and development, empowering entrepreneurs, and making meaningful contributions to Kuwait's social fabric and cultural identity. 

Additionally, the partnership seeks to establish a sustainable regulatory environment for the creative industries, fostering talent identification, incubation, and development, digital content creation, and a robust educational system for creativity. It also aims to empower creators, freelancers, and SMEs.

This initiative complements Zain’s extensive portfolio of programs and initiatives designed to achieve various sustainable goals under the company’s strategic vision, such as supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, empowering startups, sharing private sector expertise, enhancing the creative landscape, and investing in young people’s digital skills.

NCCAL is dedicated to providing a framework for cultural growth in the creative industries by engaging relevant stakeholders and partners under a national umbrella that gathers government bodies, the private sector, academic, cultural, and research institutions, and more to support creatives and entrepreneurs. 

This platform provides space for communication between the creative community and supporting organizations, as well as making the necessary resources available to support innovators and promote initiatives and investment opportunities within the creative economy. NCCAL believes that partnerships and collaboration are essential for advancing shared goals that enrich Kuwait’s cultural and creative landscape.

Founded in 1973, the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters stands as one of Kuwait’s foremost cultural institutions, dedicated to advancing cultural awareness and showcasing Kuwait’s heritage. Its initiatives include developing Kuwait’s cultural infrastructure by encouraging intellectual and creative production across diverse fields, such as literature, arts, music, and theater.

The Council also works diligently to preserve historic buildings, which serve as landmarks in Kuwait's history and as cultural catalysts for positive change, thereby strategically aligning with Kuwait’s national vision.