Pete Swift, chairman of the board of the American Business Council Kuwait (AmCham Kuwait), talks to The Energy Year about the potential for value-adding contributions by US firms in Kuwait and the country’s growing interest in diversification and innovation. AmCham Kuwait is a platform that fosters commercial ties between US and Kuwaiti enterprises.
How is AmCham Kuwait evolving to support American businesses in Kuwait in 2025, and what are its strategic objectives?
AmCham Kuwait continues to adapt its initiatives to ensure that American businesses operating in or entering the Kuwaiti market are well-positioned to navigate regulatory changes and capitalise on new opportunities.
In 2025, our strategic objectives include deepening government relations to ensure the voice of US companies is heard during economic reform processes and expanding focus groups on specific sectors such as healthcare, energy, digital economy and SMEs. We also seek to strengthen regional connectivity through our broader MENA network, and we are enhancing our advocacy platforms, providing members with timely regulatory updates and high-level engagement opportunities with both US and Kuwaiti stakeholders.
What are the key challenges for US entities working in Kuwait, and how attractive is the country for US investors?
Kuwait offers a very strategically located market with significant opportunities for US investors, particularly in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, education and healthcare. Kuwait Vision 2035 has led to increased interest in diversification and innovation, especially in 2025.
That said, American companies often encounter regulatory complexities, administrative delays and challenges with domestic partnerships and tender processes. Yet, the government, as far as we have seen, is working to address many of these issues to create more efficient processes for international entities.
How do you expect the new public debt law will affect US investments in Kuwait?
The new public debt ceiling could provide greater clarity and structure around Kuwait’s fiscal policy. This has the potential to unlock new avenues for public-private collaboration.
For US companies, this opens opportunities to participate in strategic infrastructure, energy and technology projects where private sector expertise is vital. AmCham Kuwait encourages US companies and our members to monitor the evolution of fiscal guidelines and to explore partnership models aligned with the government’s investment priorities. Through our regular briefings and forums, we ensure that our members remain informed and well-prepared to engage with relevant stakeholders.
US companies bring a competitive advantage in upstream technologies, enhanced oil recovery, drilling services and digital oilfield solutions. With Kuwait’s major investments in upstream capacity, there is a clear role for American firms to provide both cutting-edge equipment and strategic expertise. With that, in order to reach targets effectively, there needs to be further facilitation for technical collaboration, supply chain integration and local content development that can mutually benefit both countries.
The US is a global leader in clean technologies, and AmCham Kuwait sees a strong alignment between American innovation and Kuwait’s long-term sustainability objectives. Technologies such as carbon capture, hydrogen and nuclear and renewable energy are increasingly relevant to Kuwait’s environmental roadmap.
Digital innovation is a core pillar of our strategic engagement. Kuwait is showing increasing momentum in adopting emerging technologies, particularly within government services and the energy sector. AmCham Kuwait is supporting this transformation through its IT and Cybersecurity Focus Group, which brings together private sector experts and public institutions to explore the ethical, regulatory and practical implementation of technologies such as AI, IoT and blockchain.
We also organise knowledge-sharing forums, technical workshops and delegation visits to foster bilateral innovation exchange, in which we invite the Kuwait government to also discuss the usage of digital platforms in their processes. This has helped improve efficiency and outcomes, such as through the Sahel app for government services.
In 2025, Kuwait’s business environment is being shaped by a combination of energy sector investment, regulatory modernisation, workforce development and a growing emphasis on ESG principles.
AmCham Kuwait remains committed to enhancing US-Kuwait commercial ties by providing a structured platform for advocacy and strategic engagement, and by sharing best practices. We are positioning ourselves at the intersection of public-private co-operation by facilitating high-level roundtables, driving thought leadership on sustainability and innovation, and enabling member companies to align with Kuwait’s long-term national priorities.