Raskla wins the university students category, and B-One wins the high school students’ category

• Ahmed Al-Amir: We congratulate the winners and wish them success representing Kuwait in the regional INJAZ competition
• Supporting youth is a priority, as it is part of Gulf Bank's 2025 strategy and Kuwait Vision 2035
• Our successful partnership with INJAZ Kuwait resulted in training 26,000 students in 2022 and 2023
• Laila Al-Mutairi: INJAZ continues to succeed due to companies who believe in what we do and support our activities and programs.
• INJAZ’s partnership with Gulf Bank spans over 17 years
• INJAZ has trained more than 120,000 students within various training programs

INJAZ concluded its two-day competition, The Company Program Competition 2023, at Kuwait Technical College, announcing 12 winning projects. These students were from several teams and competed for various awards in the University and High School categories.

INJAZ Kuwait and Gulf Bank – the main sponsor of the competition – held a ceremony at the end of the competition, honoring the winning teams, in the presence of representatives from both Gulf Bank and INJAZ. The competition also witnessed a large number of students, their parents, volunteers, and schoolteachers, in addition to other supporting and sponsoring companies affiliated with INJAZ.

As part of its continuous effort to support youth, and its long-standing partnership with INJAZ Kuwait, Gulf Bank presented the “Best Student Company for the year 2023” award to the two winning student companies, namely: Raskla, the winners of the University Students category, and B-One, the winners of the High School Students’ category – where they will also have the opportunity to represent Kuwait at the regional Company Program competition. The regional competition will host 14 countries from the Arab region.

Gulf Bank

On this occasion, Gulf Bank's Deputy General Manager of Corporate Communications, Mr. Ahmed Al-Amir, expressed: "We congratulate Raskla and B-one for winning the Best Student Company of the year 2023 award, and wish them all the best in representing Kuwait at the annual regional competition,” praising the vital role that INJAZ plays in organizing the competition annually.

He added: "At Gulf Bank, we are proud of our long-lasting partnership with INJAZ, that spans over 17 years, and has witnessed the adoption and support of many ideas and companies; some of which have now become contributors to the economic and business ecosystem in Kuwait today.”

Al-Amir affirmed Gulf Bank's keenness to support youth as part of its commitment to encourage and develop their professional work skills – which helps them keep pace with the requirements of the job market and its rapid changes both locally and globally. This is part of Gulf Bank's 2025 strategy which centralizes youth, and Kuwait Vision 2035, emphasizing the importance of investing in youth.

He pointed out that the Company Program Competition is very popular amongst high school and university students and provides an unprecedented opportunity for them to exercise practical experience in establishing and managing a real company; along with the support, and sponsorship, of major institutions, such as Gulf Bank.

Al-Amir noted that the successful partnership between Gulf Bank and INJAZ Kuwait, has resulted in training about 26,000 male and female students during the academic years of 2022 and 2023, covering various academic levels ranging from primary to university levels, including fresh graduates.

INJAZ Association

For her part, the CEO of INJAZ Kuwait Association, Ms. Laila Hilal Al-Mutairi, stated that INJAZ continues to succeed due to the various companies who believe in the association, and continue to support INJAZ’s activities and programs.

Al-Mutairi mentioned that the partnership with Gulf Bank is extraordinary as it has been a strategic partnership that spans over many years, and Gulf Bank has continued to be a key supporter of the association's activities; by providing volunteers and training programs for students.

She added: “Throughout its journey, INJAZ Kuwait has trained more than 120,000 male and female students in various training programs, which aim to hone the skills of young people when it comes to job preparation, entrepreneurship and financial knowledge, and we are always looking forward to providing everything that serves young people and prepare them to face future challenges.”

It is worth noting that INJAZ Kuwait, is part of the global network of Junior Achievement worldwide, a non-profit (NPO), non-governmental organization (NGO) driven by Kuwait’s private sector. Through strategic partnerships with Kuwait’s business and education sectors, and with the help of qualified and dedicated volunteers, INJAZ delivers both Arabic and English language educational programs on entrepreneurial and leadership skills, to build successful careers.

Honoring The Judges

The judges were honored in the Company Program Competition, led by Gulf Bank's Chief Data and Innovation Officer, Ms. Mai Bader Al-Owaish.

A Vital Role for Gulf Bank Volunteers

Approximately 100 volunteers from Gulf Bank, played a vital role in guiding and assisting university and high school students participating in the Company Program throughout the competition, as well as providing mentorship programs and performing interviews with university students.

What is The Company’s Program

The Company Program teaches students entrepreneurial skills, how to prepare for the job market, and provides them with financial education. The students get an opportunity to establish and manage a real company and go through the full stages of establishing a new project. They begin by developing a business plan, feasibility studies, team building, raising capital, and finally creating and selling a product or service.

During the competition, high school and university students form teams and are mentored by volunteers from the business community. The teams then come up with a business idea, develop a business plan, and launch their company, which they run for a period of several months. The teams are then judged on their business acumen, innovation, and overall success. The winning team is awarded a prize and recognition for their achievements and have the opportunity to represent Kuwait at INJAZ Al Arab regional competition.

Training Programs and Courses

The programs and training courses offered by INJAZ Kuwait include:

• How to get started
• Innovation Camp Workshop
• Company Program
• Little Innovator Workshop
• Recent achievement
• Lifetime Project
• My path to career
• Datathon

INJAZ Kuwait 2023 Winners