GENEVA: Kuwait’s permanent delegation to the United Nations in Geneva has reaffirmed the country’s steadfast commitment to promoting and protecting human rights and its full cooperation with all mechanisms of the Human Rights Council. The statement was delivered by Second Secretary Dr Nada Al-Dhubaib during an interactive dialogue on the report of the UN High Commissioner, held under the third item of the agenda of the Council’s 60th session.

Dr Al-Dhubaib highlighted Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to advance human rights through the implementation of its National Development Plan, New Kuwait 2035, which focuses on building a diversified and sustainable economy, empowering women and youth, promoting social justice, and improving education and healthcare services.

She also noted Kuwait’s initiatives to support small and medium enterprises, broaden social protection and ensure equal opportunities for all segments of society. Dr Al-Dhubaib emphasized that economic, social, and cultural rights are inseparable from civil and political rights, stressing the need for a fair international environment grounded in multilateral cooperation, respect for international law and non-politicization of human rights issues. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Adarsh Swaika, in his farewell address on Friday, reflected on his three-year tenure and the steady progress in strengthening India-Kuwait relations. Addressing members of the Indian community and media at the Indian Embassy, he expressed gratitude for the goodwill and cooperation that had defined his time in office.

Dr Swaika noted that many of the challenges he inherited upon assuming charge were resolved through sustained dialogue and collaboration. He highlighted the consistent appreciation he heard from Kuwait’s leadership and citizens for the Indian community, describing them as peaceful, hardworking, trustworthy and skilled. “This reputation,” he said, “is the result of generations of Indians who have earned the respect of Kuwaitis. Today’s one-million-strong community continues to benefit from that legacy.”

On bilateral relations, the envoy described the present moment as one of the finest in recent history. He attributed the progress to the goodwill of Kuwait’s leadership, the warmth of its people and the contributions of the Indian diaspora. Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait the “high point” of his tenure, Dr Swaika emphasized its significance both in substance and symbolism. “We were fortunate to receive him here. An Indian prime minister was visiting Kuwait after a gap of 43 years. It was a landmark visit,” he said. During the visit, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah conferred on Modi the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Kuwait’s highest national award. “This honor is rarely bestowed and marked a new chapter as relations were elevated to a strategic partnership,” he observed.

Key milestones

Among major achievements during his tenure, Dr Swaika highlighted the resolution of challenges faced by thousands of Indian engineers whose residence permits had been at risk. “Through persistent engagement and support from associations, this issue has now been virtually resolved,” he said. Air connectivity also saw improvement, with consultations in July leading to an agreement to expand flight seat capacity between the two countries. This, he noted, would not only improve travel options but also help lower ticket prices. Other outcomes of continuous engagement included the easing of restrictions on family visas and the removal of the mandatory use of Kuwaiti carriers.

Support of the diaspora

Dr Swaika praised the role of Indian associations in Kuwait, over 200 of which are formally registered with the embassy. He commended their contributions to cultural, social and humanitarian initiatives, describing their spirit of cooperation as “unique and commendable.” He recalled the tragic Mangaf fire earlier this year, expressing sorrow at the loss of Indian lives while appreciating the swift support of Kuwaiti authorities and Indian social workers in repatriating the mortal remains. “We could not undo the tragedy, but the timely assistance brought solace to grieving families,” he remarked.

Looking ahead

Concluding his remarks, the ambassador said it had been his honor to serve in Kuwait and to witness firsthand the strengthening of India-Kuwait ties. He urged the community to extend the same support to his successor, Ambassador-designate Paramita Tripathi. “For the first time, you will have a lady ambassador here. I hope she will receive your full cooperation, as I was fortunate to,” he said.

Addressing mission critical challenges, event focused on expanding national AI capabilities and turning digital ambition into action

Spotlighting government use cases to modernize operations and enhance citizen services through cloud solutions ahead of the Kuwait Azure Region launch

Summit attended by policymakers and digital transformation decision makers

KUWAIT: ZainTECH, the integrated digital solutions provider of Zain Group, and Microsoft co-hosted the ‘AI-Ready Kuwait’ event, an exclusive gathering of senior government policymakers and digital transformation decision makers. Held September 17 at the Waldorf Astoria, Kuwait the event focused on accelerating Kuwait’s national AI agenda through secure, scalable and sovereign cloud technologies, aligned closely with Kuwait Vision 2035.

Following successful editions in Riyadh, Dubai and Amman, the Kuwait summit highlighted how AI and Microsoft Cloud technologies, deployed locally through ZainTECH’s industry expertise, are enabling governments to modernize operations, enhance citizen services and meet national digital policy objectives. The event coincides with a major milestone; the upcoming launch of Kuwait’s first AI-powered Microsoft Azure Region, a critical step in reinforcing national data sovereignty and public sector resilience. ‘AI-Ready Kuwait’ serves as a platform to demonstrate practical, real-world applications of AI already in motion across the region and showcase how these solutions can be tailored to Kuwait’s specific needs.

Hamad Al-Marzouq speaking at the event.

Microsoft Kuwait Country Manager Alaeddine Karim speaking.

Senior leaders from the government sector attend the forum.

Hamad Al-Marzouq, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of Zain Kuwait, said: “Today we are focused on turning Kuwait’s digital ambition into measurable outcomes with AI. AI leadership for us means building capabilities and partnerships that scale across ministries and sectors. When policy, platforms, talent and security are aligned, AI becomes a national capability that compounds over time and delivers what matters: faster public services, safer infrastructure, better health and education, stronger cyber resilience and higher private sector productivity.”

He added: “Through ZainTECH we integrate trusted connectivity with cloud, cybersecurity, data and AI into one coherent stack, and we partner with global leaders, chief among them Microsoft, to bring best-in-class platforms to Kuwait. We will invest in infrastructure, bring the best technology to Kuwait, and grow local talent so AI becomes a trusted part of everyday life and a driver of sustainable growth.” Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH, said: “AI-Ready Kuwait was about execution – turning digital ambition into action. Kuwait’s public sector is ready to scale proven solutions, that address mission critical challenges. Together with Microsoft, we’re delivering secure, trusted, future-ready technologies that support Kuwait’s national goals and meet the moment, build resilience and serve citizens better – today.”

Attendees engaged with a portfolio of solutions already landing in the market, including secure Azure ExpressRoute connectivity, resilient cloud infrastructure for service continuity, OpenAI copilots for smarter public engagement, and sector-specific AI tools built for areas such as healthcare, education and emergency services. These capabilities are underpinned by ZainTECH’s local delivery, compliance knowledge, and end-to-end cloud and AI expertise. Alaeddine Karim, Country Manager, Microsoft Kuwait, added: “With decisive steps taken by the Kuwaiti Government to position the nation as a regional AI hub, Microsoft’s collaboration with ZainTech reflects the private sector’s alignment with this national agenda.

It’s a powerful example of how AI is transforming business, government, and daily life – accelerating Kuwait’s digital future.” ‘AI-Ready Kuwait’ reinforced both companies’ commitment to enabling sustainable government transformation through real-world innovation, responsible AI and secure digital infrastructure. With more collaborations planned across the region, the event marked a pivotal step in advancing Kuwait’s vision; delivering next-generation infrastructure, smarter services and resilient ecosystems for the public sector.