Registration for KIPCO Tmkeen Award ends Oct 22
Grand prize of $100,000 in services category
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 27: Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO) and Youth Empowerment Organization (Tmkeen) announced that the registration for the Fourth KIPCO Tmkeen Award for Young Entrepreneurs 2018 started on Sept 12 and will end on Oct 22, reports Al-Anba daily.
Group Communications Director at KIPCO Eman Al-Awadhi revealed that since the launching of KIPCO Tmkeen Award for Young Entrepreneurs in collaboration with Youth Empowerment Organization in 2015, the award has been highlighting the entrepreneurial
Article 15 of the law states: Without prejudice to any severe punishment provided for in another law, any person who intentionally destroys the documents or special documents for information in the authority he/she woks for shall be punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than 3 months and not exceeding one year and a fine not less tha KD 1,000 and not more than KD 3,000 or one of these two penalties. While a penalty of imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine of not less than KD 100 and not more than KD 5,000 or one of these penalties shall be imposed on anyone who breaches the confidentiality of information provided for under this law or any other law.
In the second chapter of the draft law ‘Access to information’, it is stated that everyone has the right to access and obtain information from the authorities, in a manner that does not conflict with this law and the legislation in force. Any person has the right to read the administrative decisions that touch his rights and know the information contained in the document related to him/her.
Article 3 stipulates that the authorities must facilitate access to information to persons, ensure timely disclosure and the manner stipulated in this law, and appoint one or more competent staff to consider requests for information with sufficient experience and providing authority to access the required information.
In the first chapter, each of the ministries, public bodies and institutions, public corporate entities and Kuwaiti companies in which the State has a share or in one of the mentioned with more than 50% of their capital shall apply the provisions of the law.
‘Kuwait Sea and Folk Songs’ Music Night performed by Bin Hussain Band. Bin Hussain band is one of the oldest
traditional bands in Kuwait, it expresses and performs old Kuwaiti folk and sea songs.
community in the country.
She clarified that through the services provided by KIPCO Group, the award aims to support ambitious young people as they strive to make their businesses sustainable and more profitable.
She said the grand prize of $100,000 in the services category is the highest in the country covering a wide range of financial, strategic and operational consultancy sessions, market studies, insurance and advertising services.
In addition, the first place winner will receive $15,000 cash, while the second and third place winners will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Interested parties should visit the award’s website -- www.tmkeenkw.com.
Meanwhile, Youth Empowerment Organization CEO Ali Al Ibrahim said the goals of the annual Tmkeen Symposium are to educate, inform and inspire young people to become entrepreneurs and set up their own businesses. He pointed out the “ultimate goal is to encourage young people to be creative in order to establish innovative small and medium enterprises; thereby, contributing to the development of the business sector.”
Accountability
Article 5 of the draft law states that the draft law shall be published on websites of the concerned agencies within one year from the date of approval whenever necessary, the lists of information available to be disclosed, in addition to the laws, rules and regulations under which it operates, the important policies affecting individuals, decision-making processes, including channels of supervision, accountability, organizational structure, terms of reference, functions and duties, as well as other policies and regulatory documents.
The draft law also stipulates that the sites of toxic and radioactive materials and hazardous waste should be published, their nature and risks, the amount of emissions from industrialization, the measures taken to reduce the damage resulting from them, the location of wars remnant mines and the signs.
Once the request has been received, the employee must give the applicant a notice stating the number of the applications, the date of submission, the type of information required, and the time required to respond.
In cases of refusal, the competent officer must notify the applicant in writing stating the reasons for the refusal, especially in certain cases, such as that the information is not available in the authority, or that the information falls within the scope of the prohibition specified in this law or any other law.
The draft law stated that no information shall be provided if it may harm national security, public security or defense capabilities, including weapons, tactics, strategies, forces and military operations aimed at protecting the homeland and intelligence related to the prevention of acts of aggression and crimes against the internal and external security of the State.
Article 13 also states that in cases the application is rejected or the applicant has not received a response, he/ she has the right to file a complaint with the organization which must reply within 60 days, otherwise, the non-response will be regarded as a rejection of the complaint.
It worthy to mention here that the Council of Ministers has announced during its last meeting that in the framework of its efforts to fight corruption, based on the attention and directives of His Highness the Prime Minister to take all measures that would eliminate corruption and promote the principle of transparency and integrity, decided to approve the draft law on the organization of the right to access information and submitted it to the Premier before it is referred to the National Assembly.
Group Communications Director at KIPCO Eman Al-Awadhi addressing the audience.