KUWAIT CITY, November 3: Zain welcomed Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), HE Deemah Al-Yahya, and the accompanying delegation to the Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) at the company’s headquarters in Shuwaikh. The meeting was attended by CEO Nawaf Al-Gharabally and other senior leaders to discuss initiatives to accelerate the digital economy and improve the innovation ecosystem in member states, including Kuwait.

The visit was part of the DCO’s recent tour of the country, which included meetings with ministers and key officials from government and the private sector ahead of Kuwait’s next presidency of the organization in 2025.

The meeting made it possible to present and exchange successful experiences in several areas of development, particularly in accelerating the digital economy, creating a favorable entrepreneurial environment, empowering innovators, strengthening the culture of innovation, leading women’s empowerment initiatives, expanding social responsibility programs, and discussing various efforts. to stimulate economic and social growth.

Additionally, discussions were held on future collaboration between Zain and the Digital Cooperation Organization to serve common goals, leveraging digital transformation initiatives and private sector expertise to advance digitalization strategies in the public sector, and investing in human capital, particularly in modern technology areas such as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, to achieve sustainable growth.

Zain took this opportunity to showcase the success story of its award-winning accelerator, Zain Great Idea (ZGI), which has established itself as one of the most influential business accelerators locally and regionally for over 14 years old. ZGI has provided numerous opportunities for hundreds of ambitious entrepreneurs and startups, connecting many of them with leading technology companies and organizations in places like Silicon Valley, to gain experience direct.

Through this program, Zain aims to strengthen Kuwait’s tech startup ecosystem and foster an innovation-driven environment that creates tangible economic and social impact. This step also reflects the company’s strategic plans as a company seeking promising opportunities for diversification and sustainable growth in a highly competitive market.

The Digital Cooperation Organization is a global multilateral entity founded in November 2020, dedicated to fostering inclusive digital prosperity by accelerating the growth of the digital economy.

The DCO brings together Member States’ communications and information technology ministries, focusing on empowering youth, women and entrepreneurs, harnessing the accelerating power of the digital economy and embracing innovation to stimulate economic growth and improve social prosperity.

The DCO brings together ICT ministries from 16 member states, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar , Rwanda and Saudi Arabia. Collectively, these countries represent a combined GDP exceeding $3.5 trillion and a market of approximately 800 million people, more than 70% of whom are under 35 years old.

Through cooperation, dialogue and cross-border policy initiatives, the DCO aims to create optimal frameworks and infrastructure within Member States to enable the rapid creation of inclusive and equitable digital economies where people, businesses and communities can thrive.

In pursuit of common interests, DCO collaborates with governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs and civil society to support more inclusive digital transformation and the growth of digital industries.