KUWAIT: The second Gulf entrepreneurship forum kicked off yesterday at Four Seasons Hotel in Kuwait City. The forum was organized by the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs and New Kuwait under the slogan "The most important steps to success".

During his speech in the opening ceremony of the Forum, Assistant Undersecretary for Youth Development Sector Mishal Al-Subaie said that the forum aims to educate Gulf youth in the field of entrepreneurship, how to establish companies and manage optimally and how to achieve sustainable development.

He added, "The forum also aims to involve young people in leadership issues, strengthen their skills in entrepreneurship, strengthen relations between Gulf people, exchange experiences among them to contribute to the renaissance of the Arab nation and improve its civilization."

On her part, the ministry's entrepreneurship section chief Hessa Al-Ayar said in her speech during the opening session, that there is a renewed interest in the Gulf countries in the youth to properly qualify them in order to take leadership positions and actively participate in achieving sustainable development in the Gulf countries. "Entrepreneurship steps and relevant factors of success will be atop the agenda of the event. The conferees are expected to explore how to capitalize on the available tools of young people who are willing to get engaged in the realm of entrepreneurship," she added.

Ayar noted that the forum aims at empowering young people to develop their awareness of entrepreneurship and raising their skills to participate in the labor market. "Today, youth represent 72 percent of the people. Encourage their talents and give them the opportunity to express, innovate, and release their energies are the most important responsibilities of the State. We are delivering that in coordination with all institutions of the State and civil society, through the presentation of positive models, successful experiences and the provision of many specialized and cultural programs."

The event featured eight workshops and four seminars with the participation of a number of Gulf delegations, by five specialists in the field of entrepreneurship for each delegation, in addition to the owners of entrepreneurship existing projects.

By Faten Omar