Minister of State for Communication Affairs Omar Al-Omar affirmed that Kuwait is working to enhance its digital infrastructure through ongoing projects aimed at strengthening technological systems, improving operational efficiency, and expanding the adoption of digital solutions across government entities.
Speaking at the three-day technology exhibition “Nexus 2025,” Al-Omar said the country’s digital strategy is part of continuous national efforts to raise the quality of public services, improve user experience, create a supportive environment for advanced technologies, and advance the path of digital integration. The exhibition highlights the latest innovations from entrepreneurs as well as emerging future technologies.
Al-Omar pointed to the strong support of the political leadership for digital integration and the government’s commitment to developing the digital environment, adopting policies that enhance efficiency across various sectors, establishing clear foundations for data management, and expanding public–private partnerships.
He noted that the strategy includes empowering national talent with advanced skills in programming, data science, cloud computing, and cybersecurity—“the first line of defense for the digital system”—through initiatives designed to build specialized capabilities that improve service quality and operational performance.
Al-Omar added that the event reflects Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening its digital infrastructure, supporting innovation, and creating an environment capable of meeting the demands of the digital economy in line with Kuwait Vision 2035, which aims to build a diversified, knowledge-based economy. The Nexus 2025 exhibition, he said, serves as an important platform for showcasing emerging technologies, exchanging expertise, and exploring opportunities for cooperation and investment—thus supporting Kuwait’s innovation ecosystem and enhancing the country’s regional and global digital standing.
He explained that the exhibition brings together government entities with technological initiatives, national and international companies, SMEs, and youth-led projects, continuing its role as a platform that fosters creativity and opens new avenues for collaboration. Al-Omar also expressed his gratitude to participants, sponsors, and organizers for their contributions, asking God Almighty to grant the event success and support Kuwait’s journey toward a prosperous digital future.
A clear growth path
Basma Al-Jassem, Acting Director of the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development, said that despite Kuwait’s considerable potential, the contribution of SMEs remains below national expectations. Efforts are therefore underway to create a supportive environment, establish a clear growth path, and strengthen the sector through sustained and consistent measures.
Al-Jassem noted that global studies show SMEs typically contribute 40–50 percent of GDP in many economies and provide roughly 70 percent of employment opportunities. She said the National Fund is working to foster a business environment that enables projects to grow sustainably, supports existing ventures, streamlines procedures, and integrates its operations digitally with government entities to ensure clarity for entrepreneurs.
She added that the Fund has recently focused on developing tools and policies that help entrepreneurs overcome challenges and address struggling projects in a way that balances safeguarding public funds with enabling committed entrepreneurs to continue. She emphasized that SMEs are not merely commercial activities but spaces for developing skills, building expertise, and transforming ideas into economic value. The technology sector, she said, represents a major opportunity for Kuwaiti youth and an even greater opportunity for Kuwait’s economy to diversify and enhance competitiveness.
Al-Jassem thanked the organizers of Nexus 2025 and the participating entrepreneurs, whose presence, she said, confirms Kuwait’s capacity for development and innovation.
For his part, Amer Hayat, Head of the Policy and Regulation Sector at the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), speaking on behalf of CITRA Chairman Khaled Al-Zamel, said that enabling a sophisticated, secure, and equitable digital infrastructure that places people at the center of technological transformation has been a clear objective since the Authority’s establishment.
Hayat added that CITRA has evolved beyond its traditional regulatory role and has become a key driver of sector development. It has worked to enhance telecommunications readiness, expand 5G services, protect consumer rights, support government digital transformation, increase market competitiveness, strengthen cybersecurity, and monitor network performance in the field.
He highlighted a major recent initiative—the national project to measure the quality and coverage of telecommunications networks in Kuwait. The project covers more than 15,000 kilometers, including cities, suburbs, islands, vital sites, and highways, to create a neutral digital map of network performance and coverage quality.
He stressed that the project relies not on impressions but on international standards issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), ensuring reliable results that reflect reality. According to the findings, telecommunications companies in Kuwait provide excellent coverage— including 5G—exceeding 95 percent nationwide. This achievement, he said, places Kuwait among the best regionally and globally and enhances user confidence in the quality of digital services.
The Nexus exhibition, organized by Zone Exhibition Management in cooperation with several government entities, features events, conferences, workshops, and advanced courses on the latest trends in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, financial technology, and health technology. It includes panel discussions where experts share insights on current IT trends and digital solutions.
This year’s edition also showcases prominent student projects from Kuwait University and several private universities, highlighting the innovations of Kuwaiti youth and their role in developing technological solutions and strengthening the national innovation environment.
The exhibition features 65 leading local and international companies and 20 startups presenting the latest developments in technology and digital solutions. Its core vision is to serve as an interactive platform bringing together the public and private sectors with investors and connecting them to the newest technological solutions. The event includes a startup competition with a total prize pool of KD 10,000 (approximately $32,600). The competition provides entrepreneurs with an opportunity to present their innovative ideas to 100 investors and specialists in the field. — KUNA
