On March 3rd, CLDP led a conference addressing the challenges to private-sector growth in Kuwait. The program, held in cooperation with Kuwait’s Supreme Council of Planning & Development (SCPD) and the Arab Planning Institute, brought together government officials, private-sector representatives, civil-society organizations, and students. CLDP moderated panels on regulations, financing, and capacity-building for Kuwait’s aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small and medium enterprises. In addition, a CLDP expert-advisor also gave a presentation on improving the entrepreneurial ecosystem by leveraging best practices from Silicon Valley to ensure sustainable growth.

The conference was opened by the U.S. Ambassador and the Secretary General of the SCPD, who each discussed increasing strategic cooperation to overcome existing challenges. That evening, CLDP also led a workshop, hosted by a local business incubator, on how private citizens vested in the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, can work together to change the regulations and procedures inhibiting private-sector growth.