About The Program
A B2B and matchmaking program is being organized by the Embassy of Lebanon to the State of Kuwait and QOOT Cluster to link Lebanese food producers and innovators to Kuwait market.
The program will be divided into two main phases: Informative webinar and product pitching , and B2B event at the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Lebanon.
About The Webinar
Opportunities between Kuwait and Lebanon Webinar will introduce Lebanese exporters to market opportunities in Kuwait, hosting leading distributors, traders, and retailers in Kuwait as speakers. The sessions will provide insights on the distribution and retail markets in Kuwait offering participants practical tips and guidance on assessing their readiness to enter Kuwait market and developing an export and sales strategy.
Agenda (Beirut Time)
3:00pm Welcoming note, Introducing QOOT Cluster, and overview of the program
3:20pm Session 1: Distribution channels hosting Mr. Antoine Obeid, Regional Managing Director at FARMLAND and Mr. Hani Merhi, CEO of AL BABTAIN GROUP
During the session, participants will get the chance to receive:
- Tips on how to deal with some challenges when entering Kuweit’s market,
- Tips hon how to choose the right partner,
- An overview of the market essentials to enter the market (listing fee, visibility, marketing),
- An overview of Kuwait retail and distribution market.
3:40pm Session 2: Diversification & Innovation hosting Mr. Mohamad Kassabieh, Commercial Manager at CARREFOUR Kuwait and Mr. Bassem Salloum, Founder & Manager at LAYLA Lebanese Gourmet
During this session, participants will get the chance to receive:
- Information about opportunities in Kuwait’s market,
- Tips on going beyond traditional products to new niche products,
- Information on the dynamics of market demand and products saturation.
4:00pm Q/A
Next Steps
Two additional activities will follow this informative webinar, allowing attendees to further develop their knowledge to the Kuwait Market.
The first activity will be a webinar covering Lebanese Products dedicated to Lebanese agri-food businesses that are part of QOOT Cluster. Some companies with high potential for export to Kuwait will be selected to pitch their products to distributors, traders and retailers from Kuwait.
The second activity will arrange a Business Matchmaking event with the selected Lebanese companies and potential partners in Kuwait.
The Speakers
Mr. Antoine Obeid, Regional Managing Director at FARMLAND
Mr. Antoine Obeid contributed to the Kuwaiti community the World’s top-class cheeses from Lactalis International (President, Valbreso), Bel Group (Kiri) and Bongru group (Elle Vire) which are the biggest dairy groups in France. The French Cheese Union granted Mr. Antoine Obeid with the Chevalier Rank. He started his entrepreneurial venture “FARMLAND” in Kuwait and “ARIZONA” in Qatar to import and distribute multiple International FMCG brands. “FARMLAND” became a well-known brand in Middle East and Africa markets. Mr. Obeid also launched the first unique specialty gourmet shop “La Maison Du Fromage” in Kuwait.
Mr. Hani Merhi, CEO of AL BABTAIN GROUP
Mr. Hani Merhi is a senior corporate executive, with more than 20 years of multi-functional experience in the FMCG industry, cultivated through uniquely broad experience in multinational companies as well as regional conglomerates. His recent success as CEO at Al Babtain Group in Kuwait in fully transforming the organization and boosting the group’s shareholder value to unprecedented levels, stems from his wide experience in general management, marketing, sales, new product development and business development roles. Mr. Merhi is an expert in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan markets.
Mr. Mohamed Kassabieh, Commercial Manager at CARREFOUR Kuwait
Mr. Mohamed Kassabieh is the General Manager of Marketing & Sourcing of Carrefour Kuwait at Majid Al Futtaim Retail. He first joined Carrefour in 1999 and has since gained more than 20 years of professional managerial and retail experience in the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait being appointed in his current position in 2017.
Mr. Bassem Salloum, Founder & Manager at LAYLA Lebanese Gourmet
Mr. Bassem Salloum is the Founder of LAYLA Lebanese Gourmet, an established gourmet shop specialized in premium Lebanese products. Mr. Salloum has been working in the retail market in Kuwait for over 20 years, with primarily focus on supplying dairy products, fruits and vegetables along with extensive range of goods to retailers, restaurants and hotels.
The Moderator
Mr. Chadi Abou Daher, Economic Attaché at the Embassy of Lebanon to the State of Kuwait
Mr. Chadi Abou Daher is the Economic Attaché at the Lebanese Embassy to Kuwait. He is an international affairs professional with over 20 years of experience in the private and public sectors in Lebanon and the GCC region. Mr. Abou Daher has completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Political Science and International Affairs at the Lebanese American University, where he has also taught courses on Global Governance.
Contact Us
For more information, contact us on the following email address: info@qoot.org.
