KUWAIT: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and an accompanying delegation arrived in Kuwait on Tuesday on an official visit. Heading the reception at Kuwait International Airport were HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Also present were HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and senior ministers and state officials.

HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal received a gift from Erdogan at Bayan Palace. The gift, an emblem of Erdogan’s appreciation and pride in the bilateral ties between the two nations, is a Turkish-made Togg electric vehicle. HH the Amir voiced his sincere appreciation for this generous gesture, wishing the President and the Turkish people further progress and prosperity.

HH the Amir held official talks at Bayan Palace with Erdogan, attended by HH the Crown Prince, HH the Prime Minister and senior officials from both sides. Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah said during the talks, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations between Kuwait and Turkey, discussed means of strengthening cooperation in various fields and exchanged views on key regional and international developments of mutual concern.

HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal welcomes President Erdogan before holding official talks.

In the presence of HH the Amir and Erdogan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef pose after signing an agreement between the two countries.

The meeting reflected the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two countries, affirming their mutual desire to enhance cooperation across all domains in a manner that serves their common interests and promotes regional stability. Preserving the hard-won ceasefire recently achieved in Gaza between the Zionist entity and the Palestinian group Hamas is critically important, Erdogan said Tuesday, according to a statement by the Turkish Communications Directorate. “Emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining the strenuously achieved ceasefire in Gaza, President Erdogan stated that a two-state solution is imperative for lasting peace, and highlighted the significance of the Islamic world’s common stance on this matter,” said the directorate.

The statement also said that Erdogan “stressed Turkiye’s resolve in upholding Syria’s political unity and territorial integrity, and expressed the desire to move forward together with the brotherly Arab states in building a promising future for the Syrian people.” On bilateral ties, Erdogan said the existing cooperation between Turkey and Kuwait in the fields of investment, energy, trade and the defense industry carries strategic importance. “President Erdogan stressed the potential to further enhance the deep-rooted bilateral ties,” the statement said.

“President Erdogan expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s efforts to promote regional stability as the current Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and remarked that the free trade agreement, still under negotiation between Turkiye and the GCC, would further strengthen Turkiye’s commercial relations with the brotherly Gulf countries,” it added.

HH the Amir then held a banquet in honor of Erdogan and his accompanying delegation. Later, in the presence of HH the Amir and Erdogan, HH the Crown Prince and HH the Prime Minister, a number of agreements were signed at Bayan Palace between Kuwait and Turkey. The agreements include a maritime transport agreement and a memorandum of understanding on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates; a memorandum on cooperation in the energy sector; and a memorandum on cooperation in the field of direct investment incentives. Erdogan and his accompanying delegation then departed from Kuwait, heading to Qatar. Bidding him farewell at the airport were HH the Crown Prince, HH the Prime Minister and top state officials. – Agencies

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) on Tuesday launched the upgraded version of its digital repository (KDR), marking a significant step in strengthening the national infrastructure for scientific research and promoting a more open and sustainable knowledge-based society. Head of the digital repository project at KISR’s National Center for Scientific and Technological Information, Fadhila Taqi, said in a press statement that the development of the repository aligns with the institute’s strategic vision to adopt digital preservation solutions, which serve as a key pillar for safeguarding institutional knowledge and ensuring continuity while protecting it from loss or damage.

Taqi explained that the upgraded KDR is built on a modern digital system that keeps pace with the latest technologies, enhancing performance efficiency, expanding the scope for handling diverse scientific content and providing researchers with easy access to the institute’s scientific outputs. She added that the platform also contributes to strengthening knowledge exchange among scientific institutions.

The project began several years ago with the aim of preserving KISR’s scientific production, starting with technical reports on research projects and documenting Kuwait’s local scientific output. The initiative ensures that these resources remain accessible to current and future generations, serving as a foundation for ongoing and future research. The first phase of the project involved establishing an integrated digital laboratory to carry out digitization operations using specialized devices and a digitization management system (DAF) developed in collaboration with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This partnership enabled the addition of advanced features to the KDR platform.

The phase resulted in the digitization of over 10,000 scientific and technical reports, along with studies, government initiatives and other documents, thereby facilitating open access to research outputs and enhancing the circulation of knowledge both nationally and internationally. Taqi commended the Bibliotheca Alexandrina for its pivotal role in developing the new version of the digital repository. She noted that the memorandum of understanding signed with the institution in 2011 has allowed KISR to benefit from its expertise in building and managing digital repositories, including technical architecture, content management standards, and user-friendly data access. 

She added, “This achievement represents a milestone in realizing the goals of the strategic plan for the science and technology sector and would not have been possible without the strong support of the institute’s senior management.” Taqi expressed hope that the upgraded KDR will serve as a qualitative addition that aligns with Kuwait’s aspirations for an advanced scientific and knowledge-driven society.- KUNA

KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan on Tuesday signed a contract with the Turkish company Kozo for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a wastewater treatment plant in South Al-Mutlaa City, along with its complementary works. In a press statement, the Ministry of Public Works said the project is part of the ministry’s development plan and is designed to serve the residents of Al-Mutlaa City.

The plant will produce around 400,000 cubic meters of triple-treated water daily for agricultural and other beneficial uses. The ministry added that the facility represents a pioneering step in the adoption of alternative energy technologies, reflecting Kuwait’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure development and environmental conservation. — KUNA