KUWAIT: Acting Director General of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Mohammad Al-Mannai met on Tuesday with French Ambassador to Kuwait Olivier Gauvin to discuss ways of enhancing joint cooperation in the media field. The meeting, held at KUNA’s headquarters, highlighted the vital role of media in strengthening ties between the two friendly nations, particularly in the areas of culture and communication.

Al-Mannai underscored the importance of exchanging expertise between KUNA and Agence France-Presse (AFP) to support the dissemination of culture and knowledge. He noted that media serves as a key bridge in consolidating cultural and social ties between Kuwait and France, pointing to the longstanding cooperation between KUNA and AFP in areas such as news and photo exchange, training, professional development and the promotion of Francophone culture in Kuwait, where demand for learning the French language continues to grow.

For his part, Ambassador Gauvin praised the professionalism of Kuwaiti media, describing it as pioneering and reflective of transparency and objectivity. He lauded KUNA’s contribution through its bulletins and multilingual services, including its French-language news, which enables the Francophone community to stay informed of local and global developments while highlighting Kuwait’s commitment to broadening its outreach to diverse cultures.

The ambassador also commended the efforts of KUNA’s Observatory for Verifying News and Responding to Rumors in countering misinformation, noting the importance of combating fake news, particularly on social media platforms. The meeting was attended by KUNA Deputy Director General for the Editorial Sector Issam Al-Ghanim and Acting Editor-in-Chief Mohammad Al-Bahar. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Embassy of Mexico in Kuwait celebrated the 215th anniversary of Mexico’s Independence with a grand reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sunday. Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister for the Americas Nawaf Abdullatif Al-Ahmad attended as guest of honor. The event was also graced by senior Kuwaiti officials, resident ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, the Mexican diaspora and distinguished guests.

In his remarks, Mexican Ambassador Eduardo Patricio Pena Haller highlighted the significance of Mexico’s Independence Day, recalling the historic “Grito de Dolores” of September 16, 1810, which launched the country’s struggle for sovereignty. He noted that each year, Mexicans across the world gather on this day to commemorate the nation’s independence, its history and its enduring values of freedom, dignity and solidarity.

The ambassador underscored the deep-rooted bilateral relations between Mexico and Kuwait, tracing them back half a century. “This year is especially meaningful for us as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the State of Kuwait. Over these 50 years, Mexico and Kuwait have built a relationship founded on mutual respect, cultural understanding and a common commitment to peace and development,” he said.

“Tonight’s celebration is not only a tribute to Mexico’s national day, but also to 50 years of friendship between Mexico and Kuwait. It is an opportunity to honor the past, celebrate the present and look with optimism toward the future of our partnership,” he added.

Ambassador Eduardo Patricio Peña Haller delivers his speech.

Ambassadors and diplomats pose for a photo.

Guests pose for a photo.

Ambassadors and diplomats during the ceremony.

Mexican community members and guests during the celebration.

Ambassador Haller noted that bilateral relations have expanded across diverse fields, from political dialogue and economic exchange to academic cooperation and cultural diplomacy. “We are proud to note that trade and investment between our countries continue to grow, and that people-to-people connections are deepening, enriching both of our societies,” he said.

Looking ahead, he expressed Mexico’s eagerness to expand cooperation with Kuwait in key areas. “In this spirit, we look forward to deepening our engagement in renewable energy, education, tourism and innovation — fields where both our nations have much to share and to learn.”

Kuwait’s international role

The ambassador also praised Kuwait’s constructive presence on the international stage. “Kuwait has consistently played a constructive role in international affairs, and Mexico is proud to stand alongside Kuwait in promoting dialogue, multilateralism and the search for peaceful solutions to global challenges,” he said.

He emphasized that beyond official agreements, the true strength of the relationship lay in the warmth between the peoples of both nations. “The generosity and hospitality of Kuwaitis remind us of the values we hold dear in Mexico: Respect for community, family and friendship,” he observed.

Ambassador Haller expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Yahya, the government and the people of Kuwait for their continued friendship and support.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Haller honored Mexican expatriate Lilia López Benítez with the Ohtli Award 2025, in recognition of her dedication, leadership and commitment to strengthening the Mexican community abroad. The Ohtli Award is among the highest honors conferred by the Mexican government through the Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME), or Institute for Mexicans Abroad, which supports expatriate communities by promoting their integration in host countries and fostering enduring ties with Mexico.

Mexico commemorates its Independence Day every year on September 16, recalling the historic uprising led by Father Miguel Hidalgo in 1810 that culminated in independence from Spanish rule. Today, the anniversary is celebrated worldwide by Mexican communities and diplomatic missions as a symbol of national pride and cultural identity.

KUWAIT: The official spokesperson for the unified government e-services application Sahel, Yousef Kazem, announced on Monday that the platform has successfully completed 111 million electronic transactions, with the number of users reaching 2.9 million, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of its launch in Sept 2021.

In remarks to KUNA, Kazem explained that Sahel serves as a unified digital platform that consolidates services from dozens of government entities, providing citizens and residents with a simplified and integrated user experience.

He noted that more than 32 million transactions have been processed so far this year alone, reflecting users’ trust in the platform and the state’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency of government services. Kazem also highlighted the rapid expansion of Sahel, which launched with 123 services and now offers more than 460 services across ministries and agencies, making it the most widely used government application in Kuwait.

Among its milestones, Kazem pointed to the launch of Kuwait’s first fully integrated digital journey — the “Newborn Journey” — which streamlined previously lengthy procedures into fast, user-friendly steps. He added that work is underway to introduce additional digital

journeys, including the “House Document” and “Marriage Journey”, along with the new centralized reporting service “Balagh”.

Kazem expressed gratitude to the political leadership for their support of Kuwait’s digital transformation, and praised the cooperation of ministries and government entities in enriching the platform and modernizing procedures. This collaboration, he stressed, has strengthened institutional partnership and digital integration in daily life.

Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) reaffirmed its commitment to full digital transformation, reporting that it has provided more than one million electronic services through Sahel since its launch. Deputy Director General for Public Relations and Development Affairs and PAHW spokesperson, Omar Al-Ruwaih, said the authority has expanded its services from five in 2021 to 30 today, benefiting more than 312,000 citizens.

Al-Ruwaih noted that the most requested services included the issuance of 761,000 “To Whom It May Concern” certificates, 84,591 phone number updates, and 28,544 allocation decision certificates. He added that over 21,000 housing care and rental allowance applications were processed electronically, while more than 20,000 allocation requests were opened.

Looking ahead, Al-Ruwaih said the authority is preparing to launch new services, including video communication for students on scholarships, citizens receiving treatment abroad and members of diplomatic missions. He emphasized PAHW’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness through social media campaigns, field exhibitions and public outreach, noting that 150 awareness initiatives have been implemented since the app’s launch.

In related efforts, the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) announced the launch of the first phase of its electronic need assessment system via Sahel. The system enables employers to determine workforce requirements electronically and securely, with applications reviewed by the need assessment department before being forwarded to inspection teams.

PAM’s Acting Director General Rabab Al-Osaimi stressed the importance of smooth implementation to avoid delays, emphasizing that compliance with salary requirements is essential to ensure fairness and transparency in the process. — KUNA