VIENNA:  The State of Kuwait and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have hammered out three agreements during the 69th IAEA annual conference which concluded Friday, said the Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR).In a statement to KUNA, Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan said that some of the signed agreements extend for 10 years.

He added that Kuwait will also continue implementing nine existing joint projects and eight other ongoing regional projects with the IAEA. The three new agreements are: an agreement on the Fourth Technical Cooperation Framework Plan (2026-2035); an agreement for designating KISR as a center for cooperation with the IAEA until 2028 as a regional center for radiation monitoring; and an agreement for re-designating KISR as a center for cooperation with the IAEA until 2028 in the field of combating marine pollution, Al-Humaidan clarified.

He pointed out that the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme in Asia and the Pacific official have expressed appreciation of KISR’s cooperation at the regional level. KISR Director confirmed that five new projects have been approved for the years 2026-2027, covering various fields, including studying the impact of coke clumping on reactor performance, improving food safety, establishing a national neutron analysis laboratory, monitoring groundwater pollutants, and continuing work on a cancer treatment project with a budget of approximately 600,000 euros.

Al-Humaidan added that Kuwait hosts three regional service and cooperation centers with the IAEA in the fields of medicine, marine environment, and radiation protection. The Environment and Life Sciences Research Center at the KISR was re-designated as a cooperation center for monitoring marine radioactive pollution for the period 2025-2028 and the Radiation Measurement Laboratory was also designated as a regional resource center within the Arab States in Western Asia group, bringing the total number of Kuwaiti centers cooperation with the IAEA to four, he indicated.Al-Humaidan emphasized that the IAEA’s national technical cooperation program is a pivotal for building national capacities and ensuring the transfer of peaceful nuclear technologies.

The current national program covers five projects, in addition to four new projects that started in January 2025, encompassing areas such as the production of improved crops, the study of freshwater in groundwater aquifers, cancer treatment, monitoring marine pollution by microplastics and its impact on the safety of seafood, he clarified.

He mentioned Kuwait’s participation in eight regional projects under the Arab States in Asia Cooperation Agreement for 2024-2025 in environmental, agricultural, and health fields.Furthermore, Kuwait submitted a proposal, in cooperation with KISR experts, to establish a regional seed bank to address the effects of climate change, he said. Al-Humaidan indicated that the Kuwaiti delegation held meetings with the IAEA’s Safeguards Department and experts, during which the IAEA reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to submitting all reports related to the Additional Protocol and small quantities.He added that Kuwait also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the IAEA in all aspects of the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.

He emphasized the agency’s significant role in building and enhancing national human and institutional capacities of the peaceful use of nuclear energy.He commended the efforts of Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the IAEA in Vienna Ambassador Talal Al-Fassam in consolidating cooperation with the agency.For her part, Dr. Habiba Al-Mani’e, a researcher, stated in a separate statement to KUNA that continued cooperation with the IAEA in the field of nuclear security is in line with the approved National Integrated Nuclear Security Plan, which has proven effective in supporting a comprehensive approach to nuclear security in the country over the past few years.

She underlined that the National Integrated Plan plays a key role in directing national efforts towards building a strong and sustainable nuclear security infrastructure, and strengthening institutional, human, and technical capacities, including the monitoring and securing of radioactive sources, the national response plan, the prevention of illicit trafficking, and border control.Al-Mani’e noted that the meeting held to review the National Integrated Nuclear Security Plan in the first quarter of 2025 included the participation of all relevant stakeholders, reflecting Kuwait’s commitment to implementing the highest standards of nuclear security and developing advanced procedures to ensure national safety and security.  — KUNA

JAKARTA: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Indonesia Khaled Al-Yassin has stressed that Kuwait attaches great importance to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) for its fundamental principles of promoting peace, stability, mutual respect, and non-interference, as well as its emphasis on the peaceful settlement of disputes. Speaking at the Second Conference of High Contracting Parties to the TAC, held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Al-Yassin reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to the treaty, which it acceded to in September 2023.

He said the treaty aligns with the principles of the UN Charter and supports the achievement of sustainable development goals while fostering joint cooperation and creating new economic opportunities. The ambassador highlighted Kuwait’s keenness to strengthen ties with ASEAN member states, as well as with international organizations and regional groups that share similar values and principles. He noted that this approach reflects Kuwait’s foreign policy of supporting multilateralism and expanding cooperation across regions.

In his opening remarks, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Khaw Kim Horn described the TAC as a practical tool for enhancing shared responsibility among states. He said the treaty provides three main avenues: reaffirming commitment to its principles and objectives; expanding ASEAN’s values and norms to attract new partners; and utilizing its untapped potential in areas such as economic, cultural, scientific, and technical cooperation.

Horn underlined that since its adoption in 1976, the treaty has embodied the principles of peaceful dispute settlement and the rejection of the use of force, becoming a foundation of ASEAN’s “soft power.” He noted that the TAC has been a prerequisite for participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Defense Ministers’ meetings, and that 57 countries have now acceded to it. He cautioned, however, that the treaty faces mounting challenges amid global tensions, conflicts, and the erosion of respect for international law, stressing that preventive diplomacy and consensus-building remain crucial to safeguarding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. 

Held under the theme “Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia: Challenges and Opportunities – Past, Present and Future”, the conference was convened at the invitation of Malaysia, ASEAN’s current chair. The event brought together ASEAN ambassadors, envoys of countries that have joined the TAC, and experts from the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation. A panel discussion reviewed the treaty’s role in promoting regional stability and explored how its scope could be expanded to address modern geopolitical challenges. Participants also noted that the upcoming 50th anniversary of the treaty in 2026 represents an opportunity to reaffirm its principles and renew international commitment to multilateral cooperation. — KUNA

LISBON: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Portugal Hamad Al-Hazeem met with senior Portuguese economic figures to discuss preparations for Kuwait’s hosting of the 9th GCC-EU Business Forum, scheduled for November. Speaking to KUNA on Friday, Ambassador Al-Hazeem said he held talks with Armindo Monteiro, President of the Portuguese Business Confederation (CPB), during a meeting at the federation’s headquarters in Lisbon. The ambassador said the meeting reviewed a formal letter sent by the Kuwaiti Embassy inviting the Portuguese Business Confederation to participate in the upcoming forum, stressing the importance of the event and encouraging member companies and factories to actively engage.

Al-Hazeem emphasized that the 9th GCC-EU Business Forum will provide a significant opportunity to boost trade and investment cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union. He also underlined the importance of further strengthening Kuwait–Portugal economic ties through increased trade visits and private-sector engagement, noting Kuwait’s growing commercial activity and private investment presence in the Portuguese market.

For his part, Monteiro welcomed Kuwait’s initiative to host the forum, describing it as a strategic platform to expand economic and trade cooperation between the GCC and the EU. He added that enhancing bilateral economic relations between Portugal and Kuwait would create new opportunities for Portuguese companies and deepen cooperation in sectors of mutual interest.

Monteiro explained that the Portuguese Business Confederation, established in 1974, is the country’s largest and most influential business federation, representing more than 150,000 companies and about 1.8 million workers — equivalent to 71 percent of Portugal’s GDP. He noted that the confederation, which is multi-sectoral and active nationwide, is the only Portuguese body participating in the European Social Dialogue and representing Portugal in leading international business federations. The GCC-EU Business Forum serves as a key platform for exchanging expertise, exploring trade and investment partnerships, and highlighting non-oil growth opportunities in the Gulf states in cooperation with European partners. — KUNA