On December 10, CLDP and the US Embassy held a roundtable discussion regarding the challenges facing company registration and the importance of SME development in Kuwait. The roundtable was attended by Kuwaiti public sector representatives, SMEs, international corporations, and a regional NGO. CLDP's experts highlighted the importance of a comprehensive company law and corresponding commercial laws with regional examples, the role of SMEs in spurring economic growth, and how to incorporate business friendly, culturally sensitive mechanisms in the company registration process. The discussion yielded critical issues and challenges facing the Kuwaiti market such as a protracted and bureaucratic registration process and lack of training among administrators. Next steps for future programming include a broader roundtable to incorporate relevant government ministries and stakeholders as well as supporting the development of a One-Stop-Shop.