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Kuwait-U.S. Economic Forum:
14th Oct 2025, Jack Morton Auditorium, The George Washington University, Washington DC.
Organized by the Kuwait Banking Association and Nsquare Capital, in strategic partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and in academic partnership with Bentley University, this landmark forum will convene distinguished leaders from Kuwait’s banking sector, U.S. policymakers, global investors, and thought leaders.
Held with the presence of Kuwait’s Minister of Finance and the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the United States, the forum underscores Kuwait’s leadership in finance and its commitment to economic transformation.
For generations, Kuwait has been a pioneer in banking and commerce, standing as a trusted financial hub and a regional leader. Its legacy is built on resilience, vision, and innovation. And as the world faces economic headwinds, Kuwait’s course remains unwavering—its economy steady and ambitious, with the sail of the Kuwaiti dhow raised high, charting new paths for progress and always ahead of the tide.
The program also highlights strategic partnerships with U.S. institutions to channel capital and expertise into underserved states, reinforcing Kuwait’s global role as an economic partner that supports inclusive growth. By connecting banking strength with smart investment in areas such as renewable energy, smart infrastructure, and advanced agriculture, the forum will illustrate how bilateral cooperation can deliver real opportunities for communities across the United States.
This exclusive program brings together thought leaders and industry experts to share perspectives on emerging trends and strategic opportunities. Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in.
09:00 am
09:30 - 9:40 am
09:40 - 9:50 am
09:50 - 10:00 am
10:00 - 10:30 am
10:30 - 11:00 am
11:00 - 11:30 pm
11:30 - 12:00 pm
Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Acting Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment
Ambassador of Kuwait to the U.S.
President of Bentley University
CEO NSquare Capital
Senior Director of Middle East Affairs | U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Lydia Jabs is a leading force in U.S.–Middle East commercial diplomacy, driving strategic partnerships and investment across the Gulf and North Africa. She serves as Senior Director for the Middle East at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she also acts as Executive Director of the U.S.–Kuwait Business Council, the U.S.–Saudi Business Program, and the U.S.–Bahrain Business Council. In these roles, she spearheads high-level engagement between American companies and key regional markets, advancing the Chamber’s mission to strengthen U.S. commercial leadership across the Middle East.
Panel 1 - Financial Infrastructure as a Platform Kuwait’s banking resilience, Islamic finance leadership, and digital banking innovation.
Moderator | Bentley University
Chairman, Kuwait Banking Association and Kuwait Finance House
Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, Boubyan Bank
Vice Chairman, Warba Bank
Chairman & CEO, State Street
Co-Head of the Global Partners Office, Blackrock
MEA Cluster & Banking Head, Citi
Moderator | Bentley University
Chairman, Kuwait Banking Association and Kuwait Finance House
Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, Boubyan Bank
Vice Chairman, Warba Bank
Chairman & CEO, State Street
Co-Head of the Global Partners Office, Blackrock
MEA Cluster & Banking Head, Citi
Panel 2 - Capital Efficiency and Global Alignment -Themes: Co-investment, ESG, fintech, regulatory reforms
Moderator | Bentley University
CEO, Markaz
CEO, Wafra Inc. (New York)
CEO, KFH Capital
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Artemis Real Estate Partners
Chief Communications Officer, Libra Group
Managing Principal, Auour Investment
Moderator | Bentley University
CEO, Markaz
CEO, Wafra Inc. (New York)
CEO, KFH Capital
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Artemis Real Estate Partners
Chief Communications Officer, Libra Group
Managing Principal, Auour Investment
Panel 3 - Private Sector Leadership and Strategic Growth - Themes: Family offices, blended finance, PPPs
Moderator | NUSACC
Assistant DG for Business Development, KDIPA
Managing Director, Bukhamseen Holding
Chairman & Co-Founder, Gatehouse Financial Group and Gatehouse Bank
Vice President, Middle East, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
COO, Space Leasing International (SLI)
Former Ambassador | U.S. Ambassador to the State of Kuwait
Moderator | NUSACC
Assistant DG for Business Development, KDIPA
Managing Director, Bukhamseen Holding
Chairman & Co-Founder, Gatehouse Financial Group and Gatehouse Bank
Vice President, Middle East, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
COO, Space Leasing International (SLI)
Former Ambassador | U.S. Ambassador to the State of Kuwait
Doctor of Philosophy
Paul serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bentley University. He is an organizational psychologist and recognized expert in leadership development, team effectiveness, and organizational change. He is an accomplished scholar whose research on these topics has been funded by agencies including NSF and NIH and widely published and heavily cited in the most selective journals in the field.
Reinforce Kuwait’s Vision 2035 as the foundation for sustainable and transformative growth.
Attract multi-billion-dollar investments in renewable energy, logistics, smart infrastructure, and education.
Direct strategic capital into underserved U.S. states, advancing bilateral ties through clean energy, modern agriculture, and innovative industries.
Showcase a success story of inclusive growth and prosperity, making this forum the first of many initiatives to deepen the enduring Kuwait–U.S. partnership.
