KUWAIT: President of the Maldives Mohammad Moaz and Acting Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Waleed Al-Bahar discussed on Saturday means of boosting collaboration and reviewed joint projects in a way that contributes to backing sustainable development efforts in the Maldives.

During the meeting held in the Maldives’ capital, Male, Moaz expressed much gratitude and appreciation to Kuwait, lauding the fund’s key role since its cooperation with his country in 1976, according to a statement by the fund.

He pointed out that the Fund’s contributions included the construction of the Maldives International Airport, in addition to a number of drinking water projects and support for hospitals in remote islands. The statement noted that this meeting coincides with the Maldives’ celebrations of its independence anniversary, as well as the opening of the expansion project of Velana International Airport in the capital, Male, under the patronage and presence of President Moez. The project is financed by the KFAED as part of its efforts to support the vital transportation sector. — KUNA

 KUWAIT: Director General of Kuwait Municipality Manal Al-Asfour affirmed that the new amendments to the special conditions and specifications issued recently are limited to the buildings of the free zone. Al-Asfour explained in a press statement that what was published in some newspapers about the ministerial decision regarding the conditions and specifications for service sector buildings (16) (formerly the free zone) does not include the Shuwaikh and Al-Rai areas.

She explained that the most prominent thing included in the conditions is allowing the establishment of hotels at a rate of 150 percent of the area of the service plot, which is the same percentages previously decided, and the possibility of it containing more than one basement.

Manal Al-Asfour

Mohammed Al-Mutairi

Director of the Capital Municipality branch and Head of the Committee for Studying and Reviewing Building Regulations Muhammad Al-Mutairi said that the former free zone was transferred to the Public Authority for Industry and its name was changed to the service sector (16).  Al-Mutairi added that the area has become multi-service and has been attached to the Shuwaikh and Al-Rai service, craft, and commercial area regulations, indicating that the new ministerial decision included amendments to the building regulations that pertain to sector (16) only and do not include the rest of the sectors in Shuwaikh and Al-Rai.

He pointed out that the new amendments included a building percentage not exceeding 130 percent, which is the same building percentage previously decided, provided that it is distributed at most over three floors (ground, mezzanine, and first), and that the areas of shops and showrooms are not less than 100 square meters on the ground, mezzanine, and basement.

He pointed out that the office space is not less than 150 square meters on the ground floor and mezzanine, and the percentage of restaurants (cafes) was increased from 5 to 10 percent, and the use of warehouses in the basement was added, and all plots are required to provide parking spaces within the property boundaries.

Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Abdul Latif Al-Mishari recently issued a decision regarding the requirements and specifications for private service sector buildings (16) in the Shuwaikh and Al-Rai service, craft, and commercial area. The decision specified the activities permitted for the establishment of commercial units in the sector and permitted for their exploitation, which are (administrative offices, shops, exhibitions, banking services, branches of commercial banks, a health club, a hotel, and complementary activities to support the area, warehouses. – KUNA

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Scientific Center (KSC), a subsidiary of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), affirmed on Thursday its keenness to highlight national environmental efforts and raise awareness on the importance of protecting Kuwait’s marine environment. Deputy Director General of Visitor Experience at the Scientific Center Mohammad Al-Sanousi told KUNA that the center held a specialized exhibition entitled “Our Sea” on the sidelines of the “Shark Week” activities held on July 17, noting that “the exhibition started on Thursday, and concluded on Saturday.”

Al-Sanousi explained that this specialized exhibition includes environmental pavilions with the participation of the Environment Public Authority (EPA), the General Directorate of Coast Guard, the Kuwait Diving Team, the Kuwait Heritage Society, the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), and governmental and private bodies that support the environmental sustainability process in the State of Kuwait. He stated that the exhibition pavilions highlight national environmental efforts and raise awareness on the importance of environmental sustainability for future generations, and have witnessed great turnout and interaction from visitors.

A part of the exhibition

Kuwait Fire Force Team

Director of Public Relations and Media at the Public Authority Environment Minister Sheikha Al-Ibrahim told KUNA that the authority’s participation in the “Mare Nostrum” exhibition is represented by a pavilion that aims to spread environmental awareness and highlight the importance of protecting the marine environment. Al-Ibrahim stated that the participation of the Environment Authority included educational materials and interactive activities targeting various segments of society as part of its efforts to promote environmental culture and support sustainability.

The leader of the Cubs Team of the Kuwait Diving Team, Meshari Al-Sanousi, said in a similar statement to KUNA that the Cubs Team’s participation in this specialized exhibition comes as part of its efforts to spread environmental awareness and highlight the importance of preserving marine life, especially sharks. Al-Sanousi explained that the Cubs Team’s participation is represented by an interactive pavilion that aims to raise the level of environmental awareness about protecting coasts and marine creatures with visual and realistic documentation of the Arabian Gulf environment. — KUNA