KUWAIT CITY, April 16: The Kuwaiti Cabinet held its weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Bayan Palace, chaired by Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shereeda Abdullah Al-Moushejri provided a briefing on the meeting’s key outcomes. The Cabinet was updated on the state visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Kuwait from April 14 to 15, 2025, during which official talks were held with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including trade, investment, energy, healthcare, education, and tourism.

The two sides issued a joint statement emphasizing their determination to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in multiple sectors. The joint statement highlighted the importance of finalizing the demarcation of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi maritime border, ensuring compliance with international law, and protecting Kuwait’s sovereignty. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to Security Council Resolution No. 833 (1993) and the Maritime Navigation Agreement in Khor Abdullah. The statement also reiterated Kuwait’s support for the return of Kuwaiti property, including national archives, and humanitarian efforts regarding missing persons and prisoners. In addition, the statement emphasized that the Dorra gas field lies entirely within Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’s maritime territories, rejecting any claims to the area by other parties.

The Cabinet was also briefed on the recent visit of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya to Antalya, Türkiye, where they led the Kuwaiti delegation at the Fourth Antalya Diplomatic Forum, held under the patronage of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment Noura Al-Fassam presented updates on the outcomes of the joint annual meetings of Arab financial institutions and the 16th session of the Council of Arab Finance Ministers, which were hosted in Kuwait. Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, and other senior officials attended the meetings. Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef emphasized the importance of deeper Arab economic cooperation, youth empowerment, and support for small and medium enterprises, aligning with Kuwait’s ongoing commitment to development initiatives. Additionally, the Cabinet heard a briefing from Minister of Information, Culture, and State Minister for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Badah Al-Mutairi on Kuwait’s participation at Expo Osaka 2025.

The Minister reported on the opening of Kuwait’s pavilion, under the theme “Lighthouse of the Future,” highlighting the country’s contributions to arts, culture, innovation, and youth development. The exhibition runs for six months, with participation from 158 countries. Minister of State for Communications Affairs Omar Saud Al-Omar presented updates on the implementation of the Kuwait-Google Cloud framework agreement, which aims to enhance digital government services while ensuring data security. He also shared details about the launch of the “Newborn Journey” service on the unified government app Sahel. This service streamlines processes for newborn registration, including issuing a civil number, birth certificate, and civil ID. The Cabinet praised Minister Al- Omar and his team for their efforts in advancing digital government initiatives, which aim to simplify procedures and improve public service efficiency. Finally, the Cabinet reviewed and approved several agenda items and referred others to relevant ministerial committees for further study and action.(KUNA)