Kuwait keen on youth empowerment: Minister
Sheikh Salman highlights national unity
Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah has affirmed Kuwait’s keenness on empowering youths and investing in their activities upon the directives of His Highness the Amir. In a press statement made on Monday on the sidelines of a workshop on “youth’s efforts in achieving the 2030 agenda,” the minister expressed his happiness for Kuwait’s embrace of the second phase of a program on supporting young leaders in the Arab region. Up to 100 male and female youths whose age ranging between 19-29 years are taking part in the workshop.
Sheikh Salman, also Minister of Information, said the program aims to inspire innovation and creativity of young people, activate communication channels with them and develop their initiatives. He noted that the program is based on some topics; promoting social cohesion, economic empowerment and boosting equality between men and women in various fields.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Subaih said the program seeks to prepare Arab youth for taking part effectively in implementing the goals of sustainable development in line with the UN’s 2030 agenda. In a speech delivered in 2015, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has stressed Kuwait’s commitment to implementing these goals, she added.
His Highness the Amir said “the goals of sustainable development urge us to work in accordance with innovative methods to keep pace with requirements and needs so as to end poverty by 2030”, she stated. This can be done through international collective action and effective partnership, she noted, stressing that Kuwait has been paying much attention to all segments of society within its development plans. The State of Kuwait also allocated some programs to young people that meet their ambitions and aspirations, and remove obstacles facing them, she said.
The program is part of roles played by governmental bodies in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that aims to prepare youth in the Arab region, she pointed out. The minister expressed her gratitude to all bodies participating in holding this key event.
The workshop launched on December 14-19 is part of UNDP in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (GSSCPD), supported by Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, Public Authority for Youth, UN Women and office of UN Secretary General’s envoy for youth.
National unity
In other news, Sheikh Salman stressed the importance of boosting national unity, looking after Kuwait’s interests, and committing to political leadership’s directions. It is also important to implement His Highness the Amir’s directions mentioned in his speech at the opening of the National Assembly’s 15th legislative session, Sheikh Salman affirmed Monday while chairing a meeting with officials from information and youth ministries.
He also stressed the importance of implementing His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah’s directions he has given in his speech at the Parliament’s 15h legislative session opening, describing the Premier’s directions as a work roadmap for all bodies.
It is also important to bolster cooperation among all authorities in the country in order to face regional and international challenges, Sheikh Salman said, urging the need to consolidate all efforts toward fighting sedition, sectarian ideologies, and racism in the Kuwaiti society.
He also called upon all ministries’ affiliated bodies to setup a comprehensive program for an economic reformation, including rationalization for water and electricity consumption in order to face global oil prices. Empowering the youth toward serving their country and supporting their various creativities would, eventually, qualify them to take charge of Kuwait’s development and growth march in all fields, said the minister.
Sheikh Salman also directed all his ministries’ affiliates to study His Highness the Amir’s speech and the government’s action program for the next four years, and come up with action plans and future projects to achieve Kuwait’s development goals.
The meeting was attended by KUNA Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah, Tareq Al-Merzam, Undersecretary of the information ministry, Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, Mohammad Al-Asousi, Acting Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), Abdulrahman AlMutairi, Director-General of the Public Authority for Youth (PAY), and Kamel AlAbduljaleel, General Manager of Kuwait National Library.— KUNA