24 May, 2015: Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) participated for the first time in the renowned international training program “Strategic Investment Promotion, Exports, SMEs & Innovation” organized by International Development Ireland (IDI), the privately run training arm of Industrial Development Ireland (IDA), held in Dublin, Ireland, during the period May 18-22, 2015, and for the 20th year in a row. The program was composed of several pertinent topics including: government role in economic strategy & support; country & IPA strategy analysis and development; competitiveness & key success factors; strategic marketing (country branding, lead generation & targeting, incentives); handling site visits & tourism development; SME development, business planning & project appraisal; aftercare & business clusters; aftercare & clusters; the way forward. There was a study tour visit to 3 industrial parks, to the financial district, and to “Google” land. The training program concluded by holding hands on workshop as an exercise and application of learning in developing a strategy for an IPA. The participants in the program included representatives from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Chile, Rwanda, and Uganda. It is worth mentioning that Ireland is a living example of the success of investment promotion in attracting and expansion of FDI in focus sectors. IDA has played a key role in developing the investment promotion industry and extend the acquired knowledge to many countries around the world, especially in optimally utilizing FDI for job creation, developing education, supporting national exports, and the advancement of R&D&I capabilities, technology transfer and settlement, and creation of competitive clusters.
