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Zain publishes 14th annual ‎sustainability report, titled ‎‎‘The New Paradigm Shift’‎

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4 weeks ago

April 23, 2025

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KUWAIT CITY, Apr 23: Zain Group, a leading provider of innovative ICT and digital ‎lifestyle communication services operating in eight markets ‎across the Middle East and Africa, released its 14th annual ‎sustainability report, entitled: ‘The New Paradigm Shift,’ ‎reflecting the company’s dedication to responsible business ‎practices. Zain remains one of the most transparent and ‎accountable corporate entities in the entire Middle East and ‎North Africa region with respect to the publication of its ‎sustainability programs and their outcomes.‎

As in previous years, the report reflects Zain’s commitment to ‎meaningful connectivity that leads to equitable systemic ‎change and empowers the communities that Zain proudly serves, ‎which is at the center of Zain’s Corporate Sustainability ‎strategy on development and economic empowerment. ‎

‎‘The New Paradigm Shift’ highlights the numerous ‎sustainability programs and their outcomes implemented under ‎the four pillars of Zain’s corporate sustainability strategy – ‎namely ‘Climate Change; Operating Responsibly; Inclusion; and ‎Generation Youth’; that embrace and emphasize the material ‎importance to the company of addressing issues related to ‎preserving the planet and safeguarding it for future ‎generations; access to connectivity and reducing the digital ‎literacy gap; displacement; as well as employee development ‎and social well-being, given the rise in geo-political and ‎economic issues regionally.‎

Commenting on the publication, Zain Group Chief Sustainability ‎Officer, Jennifer Sulieman said, “We are in an era of ‎technological innovation that allows us to develop and ‎introduce initiatives that are the most impactful they have ‎ever been. Zain takes responsibility as a regional pioneer in ‎bringing the latest technologiesthat drive positive societal ‎development and meaningful connectivity across our footprint.”‎

Suleiman continued, “What Zain does matters, and we continue ‎to implement ESG principles, climate action, children rights, ‎displacement, connectivity, advancing digital transformation, ‎literacy, and stakeholder collaboration to build resilience, ‎so that amid socio-economic challenges and regional conflicts, ‎Zain may remain a beacon of hope, delivering life-changing ‎solutions for the benefit and upliftment of current and future ‎generations.”‎

Key highlights

During 2024, the company’s agenda continued to be driven by ‎efforts to address socio-economic and environmental challenges ‎across its footprint. Zain cemented the four pillars of its ‎sustainability strategy through a comprehensive engagement ‎process with various stakeholders. These included:‎

Climate Change:Focused on decarbonizing the business and ‎transition towards Net-Zero by 2050 by receiving official ‎approval from SBTi on its Net-Zero targets, Zain developed its ‎water management plan to the unique conditions of each country ‎operation. The plan detailed specific measures aimed at ‎improving water usage across all of Zain’s markets that saw ‎the company achieve a 5.89% reduction of water consumption in ‎comparison to 2023.‎

Furthermore, Zain continued in its commitment to CDP and ‎provided its Climate Change Action, demonstrating a commitment ‎to biodiversity conservation and nature preservation as ‎integral components of its broader dedication to climate ‎action. For example, Zain Omantel International (ZOI) requires ‎its partners to conduct thorough environmental impact ‎assessments aligned with regulatory and international ‎standards. ‎

Operate Responsibly: Embedding Environment, Social, and ‎Governance (ESG) principles across the entire value chain, the ‎company further developed and scaled the supplier training ‎program, launching its second training video highlighting the ‎importance of upholding human rights, promoting ethical labor ‎practices, as well assetting up grievance mechanisms. Zain ‎trained 185suppliers in 2024 in Zain’s Supplier Code of ‎Conduct, human rights and anti-corruption. Additionally, Zain ‎continued its Supplier Self-Assessment questionnaire process ‎with604suppliers groupwide to validate their commitment and ‎alignment to sustainability policies and ethical principles.‎

In addition, the company continued to contribute to employment ‎opportunities through Zain’s distribution channel, in 2024 the ‎company generated around114,000 jobs across its value chain.‎

Inclusion:Aiming to reduce the digital inequality gap, the ‎fourth cycle of ‘Women in Tech’ program launched inKuwait, ‎Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Sudanto better address ‎the needs of the target community through focus groups, ‎surveys, and feedback sessions. A total of 485young women ‎joined the program across the Group, reflecting a 16% increase ‎from 2023.Similarly, to better serve customers from the ‎disability segment, the company provided specialized bundles ‎for this demographic in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi ‎Arabia. ‎

Zain continued to place a high priority on enhancing the ‎skills of its employees either by upskilling or reskilling its ‎workforce in line with the company’s 4SIGHT digital ‎transformation strategy. The Zain Inclusion, Diversity, & ‎Equity University (IDEU) continued its collaboration with the ‎prestigious IE University in Spain with the aim of extending ‎learning opportunities to 2,000 Zain employees to participate ‎in an inclusive online Digital Transformation program, also ‎offering the possibility of attaining a master’s degree. ‎

Generation Youth:Aimed at building resilience across ‎communities by targeting 16 million children and youth, the ‎company was recognized amongst 3,000 of the largest ‎corporations globallyon key children’s rights categories, ‎whereby the company scored higher than the sector and industry ‎averages, tripling the ranking of many regional corporates. In ‎the benchmarking rankings, Zain scored 8.4/10 overall against ‎a sector average of 5.6/10 and a regional average of 2.8/10. ‎The average of all companies benchmarked was 4.3/10.‎

As an advocate for children’s rights and in alignment with the ‎UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16.2, which aims to end all ‎forms of violence against children by 2030, Zain continued to ‎support the cause by introducing a powerful campaign in ‎response to the rising global violence that is impacting ‎children disproportionately. This initiative followed the ‎escalating crises and conflicts worldwide, where children are ‎bearing the brunt of severe hardships and violence, affecting ‎their physical and mental well-being.The campaign, titled ‎‎#EveryChildHasRights, was designed to highlight the critical ‎threats faced by children in conflict-affected regions and ‎support for their protection. It included a compelling video ‎underscoring the urgent need to safeguard children’s rights, ‎engaging audiences in meaningful and emotional dialog. Through ‎this campaign, Zain aimed to create a global call to action ‎and foster a deeper understanding of the pressing issues at ‎hand. The campaign successfully garnered 16.5 million ‎impressions across Zain’s footprint during 2024, amplifying ‎its message and driving significant awareness on this crucial ‎issue.‎

Also in 2024, Zain launched a two-phase campaign on excessive ‎screen timefocusing onboth children and parents, reaching 43.9 ‎million impressions and prompting 82% of viewers to set screen ‎time boundaries. Polls undertaken of the successful campaign ‎indicated a 100% increased awareness on managing screen use.‎

Moreover, Zain continued its partnership with Child Helpline ‎International (CHI), advancing its three-year MoU to support ‎and improve the effectiveness of child helplines across Zain’s ‎footprint. This collaboration strengthens engagement between ‎helplines and key child protection stakeholders, including ‎governments and regulators, while advancing platform ‎technologies and expanding services to instant messaging and ‎social media.‎

Towards the end of 2024, Zain unveiled a new enhanced five-‎year corporate strategy, ‘4WARD-Progress with Purpose’. The ‎new program builds on the success of the 4SIGHT strategy and ‎is focused on continuity, acceleration, collaboration and ‎innovation, and is designed to foster value creation by ‎accelerating the company’s evolution from a predominantly ‎mobile centric operator into a purpose driven and ‎sustainability focused technology entity. Zain looks to ‎maximize its full potential as a customer-centric, future-‎proof, and impactful leading regional TechCo conglomerate, and ‎its sustainability strategy will be adapted accordingly. ‎

Related Topics:14th Annual Paradigm publishes Report Shift Sustainability titled Zain

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Colombia seeks to join China-based development bank

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2 hours ago

May 18, 2025

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shakes hands with Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro after delivering his opening speech for the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States at China National Convention Center in Beijing on May 13. (AP)

MIAMI, May 18, (AP): Colombia’s government has applied to join a China-based development bank, another sign of Latin America’s drift away from the U.S. as the Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts, trade barriers and crackdown on immigration spurs many leaders in the region to seek closer ties with Washington’s geopolitical rival. Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrapped up a visit to China this week with a stop in Shanghai, where he met with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, the head of the New Development Bank.

The multilateral lender was set up a decade ago as a project of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – the so-called BRICS nations of major developing markets – as a counter to US-dominated institutions like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. To date, the New Development Bank has approved loans for 122 infrastructure projects totaling more than $40 billion in areas such as transport, sanitation and clean energy, according to Rousseff.

Petro, speaking to reporters in China on Saturday, said that Colombia is committed to purchasing $512 million worth of shares in the bank. He said that he was especially excited by the possibility of securing the New Development Bank’s support for a 120-kilometer (75-mile) canal, or railway, connecting Colombia’s Atlantic and Pacific Ocean coastlines that he said would position the country at the “heart” of trade between South America and Asia.

Colombia is the second Latin American country to try and join the bank after tiny Uruguay sought membership in 2021. But Colombia’s traditional role as a staunch US ally and caretaker in the war on drugs is likely to raise eyebrows in Washington. The US State Department this week said that it would “vigorously oppose” financing of projects linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Latin America.

Petro signed up to the initiative during a summit with fellow leftist leaders from Brazil and China. Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, said he wouldn’t be dissuaded by U.S. pressure and reaffirmed that Colombia seeks to remain neutral in a new era of geopolitical wrangling. “We made this decision freely,” Petro told reporters from Shanghai. “With the United States we can speak face to face, with China too.”

Business

$4 trillion Gulf investments pledged in US over 3 years

Published

15 hours ago

May 17, 2025

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Recent visits by the U.S. President have resulted in $4 trillion worth of investments in the U.S. over the next three years from three Arab Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. These investments are expected to yield productive outcomes that could strengthen security and stability in the region. There are also strong indications that a new deal between the U.S. and Iran is imminent, which could help stabilize oil prices.

While huge sums of money are being spent, there is hope that oil prices will recover in the coming years. Many Arab Gulf states are currently facing huge deficits due to low oil prices, which are insufficient to cover even 40 percent of their state budgets and expenditures. The visit itself serves as a strong indication of a new and emerging alliance between the USA and the Gulf States, in terms of the security and safety of all Gulf nations. This is aimed at ensuring they work together for defense in the event of an emergency. Meanwhile, the Gulf states continue to use all available means to secure their safety while simultaneously investing in the U.S. through arms purchases and financial investments. From this perspective, Kuwait is emerging as a leading global investor, as it is channeling its surplus funds into overseas investments, primarily in the U.S. and European countries. This investment strategy is expected to extend further into Far Eastern markets, including Japan, and eventually China, amounting to $40 billion. This shift is becoming a huge development, offering potential for growth in Kuwait’s oil industry, as well as in refining and petrochemicals.

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) should seriously consider these opportunities. The President’s visit to our region is a clear indication of the commitment to the stability of the region. However, one element that was overlooked is the future stability of oil prices, especially among the top producers. It appears the issue was intentionally left untouched, allowing the oil markets to make their own predictions and remain separate from politics. Undoubtedly, the visit was a highly successful one, with a $4 trillion deal, marking the largest ever weapons purchase in a single state visit.

By Kamel Al-Harami Independent Oil Analyst

Business

Kuwait Airways Airbus A321neo aircraft arrives in Kuwait

Published

16 hours ago

May 17, 2025

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KUWAIT CITY, May 17: With intensive media coverage, the Kuwait Airways inaugural Airbus A321neo aircraft successfully landed at Kuwait International Airport (Terminal 4) on Thursday. This aircraft, the first of nine ordered, was manufactured by Airbus. Following his arrival on the flight from Toulouse, France; alongside Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kuwait Belinda Lewis, Kuwait Airways Chairman Abdulmohsen Al- Faqan conveyed to KUNA and Kuwait TV that the new aircraft, named ‘Al-Mutlaa’, is distinguished by its efficient maintenance and fuel consumption, achieving approximately 20 percent fuel saving. He elaborated that the new aircraft, slated to commence service within days upon completion of the required documentation, features 16 business-class seats and 150 economy-class seats, and is equipped with advanced onboard entertainment systems.

He said the delivery of the remaining A321neo aircraft stipulated in the agreement is expected shortly, reinforcing the airline’s dedication to the ongoing development of the national carrier and the provision of superior customer service, under the directives of the political leadership. He disclosed that a meeting was convened with senior officials from Rolls-Royce PLC to discuss the advancement of the engine system and the provision of support to Kuwait Airways.

Meanwhile, Lewis disclosed that she visited the Rolls-Royce production facility in Derby, United Kingdom, where aircraft engines, particularly for widebody Airbus aircraft, are manufactured. Lewis added that she visited the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France, which integrates leading European aviation technology from the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and France, and encompasses a diverse range of aircraft of varying capacities and sizes, produced and distributed globally. She said she was impressed by the new aircraft, which incorporates cutting-edge technological features, is environmentally friendly, safe, healthy and enhances passenger comfort and enjoyment.

Kuwaiti Ambassador to France Abdullah Al-Shaheen affirmed on Friday that Kuwait Airways received the new aircraft from Airbus, reflecting the depth of the partnership and cooperation between the two countries. Al-Shaheen made this statement to KUNA after participating in the ceremony marking Kuwait Airways’ receipt of its first new A321neo aircraft from Airbus in Toulouse, France. He asserted, “We are proud of this occasion, which reflects the outstanding level of relations between the two friendly countries, and it is considered an extension of a long history of constructive cooperation based on trust and mutual respect.”

He added that Kuwaiti-French relations have witnessed “continuous development” in various fields over the decades, particularly in the economic and strategic sectors, stressing that the State of Kuwait is keen on strengthening this cooperation to serve mutual interests. Al-Shaheen, Al-Faqan, Lewis, French Ambassador to Kuwait, Olivier Gauvin, and senior officials from Kuwait Airways and Airbus attended the aircraft delivery ceremony from Toulouse last Wednesday.