Garry Walsh, CEO of Mezzan Holding

I think, the average retail growth was about 16%. You won’t find anywhere in Western Europe or America anything that would match such growth rate. I expect no less than 8% in the next ten years.

Abyat Megastore, Chairman, Khaled Hassan Abul

Abyat Megastore business looks very closely at Kuwait renovation and building materials market due to customer spending in Kuwait. Through salary increases and bonuses in government jobs in Kuwait that would mean more spending for building materials.  Abyat Megastore also looks at Kuwait new sites where new housing developments are going to be built. There is a gap there still but this is really a major market for us in building materials.  If there are new homes there is a need for new building materials, finishing materials, and furniture- this is where Abyat Megastore comes into play.

Kuwait Retail, Chairman of Mezzan Holding, one of the largest diversified conglomerates in Kuwait, Mohammed Jassim Alwazzan

Mezzan Holding see itself as playing a major role in industries. This is where as Mezzan Holding, we are looking and it is a very long term vision that will come about as a result of strong investments. Mezzan holding is looking for international partners. For example, in Bahrain we are looking into the napkin industry on the consumer end. Mezzan holding wants to grow our product lines into the industry and we would be willing to cooperate with major companies. We plan to stay in the GCC region in terms of our expansion because there is a lot of opportunity for growth.

Kuwait Luxury Retail, CEO of Chalhoub Group, Anthony Chalhoub

Kuwait retail market is more mature market and Kuwait luxury retail market is probably the most mature market of the GCC countries in this field, with a long history of renowned luxury brands opening their first shop in Kuwait. Subsequently, Kuwaiti customers are very brand-aware; fashion-oriented and act as real trendsetters for the rest of the region. Chalhoub Group often witness customers visiting shops with 1 or 2 pictures collected from the Internet, of fashion shows that only happened a few hours earlier, asking to pre-book these items to be the first to acquire them. Chalhoub Group expects the region to be relatively resilient: 2% growth in 2010, compared to a 15-20% decline globally.