IT SERVICES
The rapid development of technology necessitates targeted IT services for specific functions.
How have your operations advanced in recent years?
Amir Fahim Ipsos has been in Kuwait since 1997, as our second office in the MENA and GCC region, only after Lebanon. Things started to move rapidly in this region, and Ipsos made sure to be present early enough. Ipsos globally is in 88 countries with 177 offices and 16,500 employees. Our largest clients are in the banking sector, and we deal with almost all the banks in Kuwait, so we have a big market share in the financial services sector. Kuwait is considered a great place for banking research, and we do communicate our best practices to other Ipsos teams in the region. Kuwait banks are increasingly operating in the region, and have ambitions to become more international. The leap from regional to international is much larger than from local to regional, and we have the expertise to provide support for that through our global network and expertise. Kuwait's largest banks are now investing in Turkey, Malaysia, and Egypt, and smaller banks are in Lebanon and Jordan. Secondly, we work with telecommunications companies, the obvious clients, as well as with FMCG and hospitality chains. Currently it is becoming more challenging to measure and to predict consumer behavior, which is why Ipsos continually invests in R&D to find new tools and methodologies for this. To better develop specialized research tools and methodologies that cater for different client needs, Ipsos has established six business lines specializing in specific research types.
Mazen A. Ishbib Data is everywhere now but data protection has only become more urgent with cloud technologies. Although it is a wonderful product, people do not trust their data on the cloud fully. Our task is to manage the security of data. Around 60% of our business is with the government. Kuwait has been the leader in IT in the GCC region, and the country has the ability to be frontrunner again. From Kuwait we currently serve international customers in the GCC as well as India, the US, and the UK. Due to the internationalization of business and the rapid spread of information, our customers know what is available on the market, so we need to be at the top of our game to meet demands. We differentiate from other IT companies that are box movers, primarily involved in trading hardware and software. With our outsourcing activities, we provide end-to-end IT services as system integrators, so after delivering the package, we do the implementation and offer continuous support, including a 24/7 helpdesk. Since we are strategic partners with major leading technology vendors and consultants, we can offer solutions that not only offer their current needs, but also make their investments get better ROI and make them future proof. Amongst others, we currently work with Oracle, HP, Microsoft, Dell, Fortinet, F5, Barracuda, and Nutanix. In Kuwait, we were the first large company to start complete outsourcing for IT infrastructure, and our first big project was Kuwait Airways in 2005. We recently signed a new contract; we were awarded a large infrastructure-leasing project, worth nearly USD40 million for five years, for a major oil sector company.
What services are in great demand in Kuwait?
AF The greatest demand is for pure market research and the loyalty-centric types of studies that we conduct: customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and mystery shopping. This is the backbone of what we do in Kuwait. Occasionally, we receive requests for brand strategy and marketing reputation; however, we work on these projects usually in collaboration with well-established international firms. Our primary task is to provide market insights, and that is where our expertise lies. There is a difference between data/information and insights, and we provide the latter; the story behind the information and the figures.
MAI E-government has been the initiative of the Kuwaiti government for the past few years, but to date it has been limited to online payments and some other services. There are many opportunities for the Kuwaiti authorities to connect with its citizens through online portals, and we do not envisage any major challenges given the fact that technology is widely available and adopted amongst the GCC countries and with a generally tech-savvy Kuwaiti population. The government is definitely stepping up faster than we expected and the current administration seems to be providing enough resources financially to the ministries to solicit offers to bring the service level one or two steps higher. There is a sense of urgency there now, and it used to be more relaxed. If the ambitious plans are implemented, online services would be extended to both industries and residents.
IT SERVICES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Guest Speaker
Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister , Malaysia
TBY talks to Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, on the growing contribution that Islamic countries are making to the global economy and how Islamic financing can offer new opportunities to industry and academia.
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HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Minister, Commerce and Industry (MoCI)
TBY talks to HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Minister of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), on tools and strategies for diversifying the economy, the role of international players in supporting a wider range of sectors, and the rapidly developing food industry.
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HE Yousef Al-Ebraheem, Advisor , Al-Diwan Al-Amiri
TBY talks to HE Yousef Al-Ebraheem, Economic Advisor to the Al-Diwan Al-Amiri, on the need for a rejuvenation of Kuwait's infrastructure to support an economy that has come a long way and the role education will play in delivering the expertise required by the society.
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Dr. Khaled A. Mahdi, Secretary-General , Supreme Council for Planning & Development (GSSCPD)
TBY talks to Dr. Khaled A. Mahdi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning & Development (GSSCPD), on the breakdown of Kuwait's long-term economic plan, the KPIs that will benchmark its success, and what Vision 2035 means for the nature of the economy.
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Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)
TBY talks to Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Director General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), on launching an investment promotion conference, attracting the right partners for PPP, and expectations for the year ahead.
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HE Dr. Mohammad M. Al-Zuhair, Executive Chairman, Kuwait National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development
TBY talks to HE Dr. Mohammad M. Al-Zuhair, Executive Chairman of the Kuwait National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development, on empowering young Kuwaitis, IT and entrepreneurialism, and the growth of fintech.
read articleFocus: Still all in the family?
Merchant families in Kuwait
Family-owned businesses play a major role in the Kuwaiti economy. However, with many approaching the third generation of management, they are starting to come across unique problems that may pose issues for the greater economy.
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HE Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Director, Environmental Public Authority (EPA)
TBY talks to HE Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Director of Environmental Public Authority (EPA), on how oil companies can contribute to Kuwait's vision on sustainability and the various projects that are coming to fruition.
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Dr. Samira S. Omar Asem, Director General, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
TBY talks to Dr. Samira S. Omar Asem, Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), on commercializing the green innovations coming from R&D initiatives, the role of collaboration across multiple sectors, and projects that we should expect to see more of in the future.
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Khaled Abdulrazzaq Al Khaled, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Boursa Kuwait Company
TBY talks to Khaled Abdulrazzaq Al Khaled, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Boursa Kuwait Company, on the takeover of the Kuwait Stock Exchange and the role the bourse plays in both the privatization of government entities and as a source of capital for family businesses.
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HE Essam Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq, Minister, Oil & Minister of Electricity and Water
TBY talks to HE Essam Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq, Minister of Oil & Minister of Electricity and Water, on cooperation with other ministries, the private sector's role in energy, and upcoming regulations.
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Ghalib Shlash Safouq, Assistant Undersecretary for the Construction Projects Sector, Ministry of Public Works
TBY talks to Ghalib Shlash Safouq, Assistant Undersecretary for the Construction Projects Sector at the Ministry of Public Works, on Kuwaiti companies, the country's healthcare facilities, and the role of international companies.
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Khaled K. Al Mashaan, Vice-Chairman & CEO, ALARGAN International Real Estate Company
TBY talks to Khaled K. Al Mashaan, Vice-Chairman & CEO of ALARGAN International Real Estate Company, on drivers of growth, operating throughout the region, and real estate prices in Kuwait.
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Tawfiq Ahmed Bin Sultan, Chairman, Middle East Telecommunications Company (METCO)
TBY talks to Tawfiq Ahmed Bin Sultan, Chairman of the Middle East Telecommunications Company (METCO), on e-government potential, the future of the economy, and the state of technology uptake in Kuwait.
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Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA)
TBY talks to Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Director General of Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA), on his operational plans for the near future and turning Kuwait into a regional logistics hub.
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HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Acting Minister, State for Youth Affairs
TBY talks to HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Acting Minister of State for Youth Affairs, on e-platforms and blended learning programs, developing ICT skills, and preparing young people for tomorrow.
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Eng. Ali Hussein Al Youha, Secretary-General, National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters
TBY talks to Eng. Ali Hussein Al Youha, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, on the activities of the Council and works to preserve and enhance Kuwait's cultural heritage.
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