logo

Kuwait FM stresses importance of Gulf cooperation to tackle political, economic challenges

Zawya29-01-2025

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya stressed, Wednesday, the importance of cooperation to confront political, economic and security transformations in the region and worldwide, noting that Kuwait's presidency of the 45th session of the Supreme Council of the GCC comes at a critical stage that requires strengthening Gulf integration.
During the first meeting of the 28th session of the Advisory Board of the GCC Supreme Council in Kuwait, Al-Yahya said that this meeting represents a prominent station in the path of cooperation and integration between the Council countries and reflects the commitment of the member states.
The Minister also affirmed that the GCC has proven throughout its successful journey its ability to withstand and adapt to these challenges, indicating that the advisory body is a fundamental pillar in supporting the decision-making tributary within the Cooperation Council.
He conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his wishes for the success of the meeting, praising the support of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for the tasks of the Advisory Board.
Minister Al-Yahya expressed thanked the Chairman of the Advisory Board in its 27th session, Dr. Mohammad Al-Sada, for his sincere efforts that yielded constructive results, stressing the pivotal role played by the Board in providing in-depth studies and strategic recommendations that support the Gulf integration process.
In turn, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, stressed the importance of the Advisory Board in supporting the decisions of the Supreme Council.
Al-Budaiwi referred to the new assignments issued by the 45th Gulf Summit hosted by Kuwait last December, which include unifying Gulf efforts to confront natural disasters, developing unified Gulf policies and legislation to use artificial intelligence, and addressing obstacles to the integration of services between the GCC countries.
For his part, the Chairman of the 27th session of the Advisory Board, Dr. Mohammad Al-Sada, said that the Advisory Board concluded the work of its previous session, where it submitted its views and recommendations to the Supreme Council in its 45th session held in Kuwait. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to Minister Al-Yahya, for his generous hosting of the meeting. He also praised the continuous efforts made by the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council in supporting the work of the Council and enhancing cooperation between member states.
Al-Sada also congratulated the new Chairman of the Board, Nasser Al-Roudhan, on his selection as Chairman of the Advisory Board for the new session, stressing that the previous session witnessed great effort that resulted in the preparation of comprehensive strategic visions that were presented to the Supreme Council and officially approved.
In turn, the new Chairman of the Authority, Nasser Al-Roudhan, said that this meeting confirms the importance of the role played by the Authority in studying the vital issues that concern the GCC citizens and enhancing the sustainable development process of the Council countries.
The Advisory Body was established by a decision of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council at its 18th session in Kuwait in December 1997, based on a proposal submitted by the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with the aim of expanding the base of consultation and intensifying communications between member states.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UAE official calls on Iran to rebuild trust with Gulf neighbours
UAE official calls on Iran to rebuild trust with Gulf neighbours

The National

time3 hours ago

  • The National

UAE official calls on Iran to rebuild trust with Gulf neighbours

Tehran must work to restore trust with Gulf states, which has been damaged by its decision to attack Qatar, the diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed said on Saturday. The missile attack came despite Gulf states' opposition to Israel 's strikes on Iran and their efforts to de-escalate the situation, Dr Anwar Gargash said Qatar said it repelled 19 missiles launched by Iran on Monday evening. Tehran said these were targeted at the Al Udeid airbase, which is used by American forces, as retaliation against the US for joining Israel's attacks on its nuclear sites. 'The Gulf states took a strong and influential stand against the Israeli war on Iran. They sought to de-escalate tensions in all international forums and called for a political resolution to outstanding issues, most notably the nuclear issue,' Dr Gargash said in a post on X. 'Despite this, Iran targeted the sovereignty of the sisterly state of Qatar, a targeting that affects us all. 'Today, as we turn the page on the war, Tehran remains called upon to restore trust with its Gulf neighbours, which was damaged by this aggression.' The attack was strongly condemned by the UAE and other members of the GCC – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain – as well as other Arab states. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim described it as a flagrant breach of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, and 'inconsistent with the principle of good neighbourliness and the close relations between the two countries', when Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made a phone call to express his regret over the attack. The attack disrupted air travel across the region as Qatar and some other Gulf states closed their airspace and flights were diverted. In an interview with AFP published on Saturday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said that as leaders were weighing their response to the attack, a call came from US President Donald Trump to Sheikh Tamim, saying 'there is a possibility for regional stability … and that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire'. 'Qatar could have taken the decision to escalate,' Mr Al Ansari said. 'But because there was a chance for peace … we opted for that.' The ceasefire Mr Trump announced in the hours following the attack on Qatar has so far held.

New $205m agreement to boost UAE-GCC power grid interconnection
New $205m agreement to boost UAE-GCC power grid interconnection

Gulf Business

time9 hours ago

  • Gulf Business

New $205m agreement to boost UAE-GCC power grid interconnection

Image courtesy: WAM/ For illustrative purposes Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has signed a Dhs752m ($205m) financing agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) to support the expansion of the GCC power grid interconnection with the UAE's national electricity network, state news agency WAM reported. The agreement, signed at The infrastructure project forms part of broader efforts to enhance regional energy resilience and enable wider economic and developmental integration, aligning with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. The strategy aims to create an energy system that is both sustainable and economically efficient. Initiative will increase electricity transmission capacity between UAE and GCC Designed as a strategic grid upgrade, the initiative will significantly increase electricity transmission capacity between the UAE and the GCC network. Technical and economic feasibility studies have supported its design, in line with the GCCIA's vision for a durable, regionally connected power infrastructure. The project includes the construction of a 400kV double-circuit overhead transmission line spanning 96 kilometres, connecting the Al Silaa substation in the UAE with the Salwa substation in Saudi Arabia. It also entails the expansion of three substations — Gonan, Al Silaa, and Salwa — and the installation of advanced 400kV switchgears, circuit breakers, and reactors, along with modern protection and control systems to enhance grid efficiency and reliability. 'This project reflects ADFD's commitment to financing high-impact infrastructure that supports the UAE's development priorities,' said Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, director-general of ADFD. 'Power grid interconnection is a strategic enabler of energy security and a foundation for accelerating the transition to He added that the project would 'increase the efficiency of the power grid, improve emergency preparedness, strengthen connectivity with regional partners, and promote the integration of renewable energy,' supporting the GCC's sustainability and emissions reduction goals. Engineer Ahmed Ali Al Ebrahim, CEO of the GCCIA. called the initiative the first phase of a broader collaboration with ADFD during the current grid expansion and noted parallel efforts to interconnect with Kuwait, Oman, and southern Iraq, representing a total investment exceeding $1bn. 'By leveraging increased transmission capacity, we aim to activate a unified Gulf electricity market to facilitate cross-border power trade,' Al Ebrahim said. 'This could create economic opportunities projected to exceed $20bn over the next 15 years.'

Deloitte Middle East, AWS unveil $1bln expansion plans to boost digital transformation
Deloitte Middle East, AWS unveil $1bln expansion plans to boost digital transformation

Zawya

timea day ago

  • Zawya

Deloitte Middle East, AWS unveil $1bln expansion plans to boost digital transformation

Deloitte Middle East and Amazon Web Services (AWS) rolled out plans to deliver $1 billion worth of services by 2030, accelerating digital transformation across the Middle East, according to a press release. Both parties will inject investments to boost regional capabilities, support local cloud adoption, and unlock new growth opportunities across key sectors. This strategic alliance will focus on enabling enterprises to enhance their core operations, increase agility, and drive innovation through cloud-native technologies and an AI-first approach. On its part, Deloitte will grow its network of AWS-certified practitioners in the Middle East and invest in building dedicated Centers of Excellence to meet complex transformation needs. Rashid Bashir, Technology & Transformation Leader at Deloitte Middle East, said: 'This initiative is a major step forward in our mission to drive large-scale transformation for organizations across the region. By deepening our alliance with AWS, we are not only investing in advanced technologies but also in the talent and tools that local businesses need to thrive.' 'Together, we will help clients accelerate innovation, build resilience, and unlock long-term value through cloud and AI adoption at scale – starting right here in the Middle East,' Bashir added. Under the joint agreement, Deloitte and AWS will work closely with clients across key sectors, including banking, energy, public services, and healthcare, integrating Deloitte's industry insight with AWS's advanced capabilities. Main focus areas will include cloud strategy and architecture, application modernization, AI development and integration, cybersecurity, and governance. Tanuja Randery, Managing Director for Europe, Middle East & Africa at AWS, commented: "Customers can look forward to significantly accelerating the pace of their bold transformation projects by having a partner which will stay with them from inception to value realization." In January, Deloitte Middle East teamed up with Dynatrace to expand its cloud offering in response to increasing demand for accelerated digital transformation and enhanced business resilience. All Rights Reserved - Mubasher Info © 2005 - 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store