WASHINGTON: Acting Minister of Finance, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment Dr. Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem met with World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Ousmane Dione.

During the meeting, Dr. Al-Mukhaizeem highlighted the importance of strengthening relations with the World Bank’s local office in Kuwait, especially following the appointment of a new office director. He stressed the need for the new director to possess the necessary expertise, knowledge, and flexibility to engage effectively with local entities, ensuring that the office’s presence delivers tangible added value.

He also underlined the importance of holding an early meeting with the newly appointed director to set clear priorities for cooperation between Kuwait and the World Bank.On his part, Dione expressed appreciation to Kuwait for recently completing the payment of its contribution to the general and selective capital increase of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

He said this reflects Kuwait’s commitment to its international obligations and its support for the World Bank’s efforts in advancing sustainable development.Both sides reaffirmed the importance of further enhancing cooperation between Kuwait and the World Bank, particularly in the fields of education, health, energy, and water.

The meeting was attended by the Executive Director at the World Bank Group (WBG) Abdulaziz Al-Mulla, the Director of Public Debt Management Faisal Al-Muzaini, Director of International Economic Cooperation Department Saad Al-Rashidi, Acting Director of Macroeconomics and Fiscal Policy and Director of Financial Planning and Follow-up Department Ahmad Al-Omran.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of Kuwait’s participation in the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), held in Washington from October 13 to 18, 2025. — AFP

KUWAIT: In line with its strategy to invest in national competencies, National Bank of Kuwait welcomed the 30th cohort of trainees as part of its annual NBK Academy program, specifically designed for young Kuwaiti university graduates. The academy’s training program extends over six months, beginning this October and ending in March of next year, in which trainees will undergo an intensive program in technical, behavioral, and experiential training, giving participants the opportunity to build a long-term career at NBK.

Moreover, the program covers various aspects in the banking field, such as basic banking principles, risk management, financial accounting, marketing, and negotiation, in addition to training in creativity, innovation, design thinking, and productivity enhancement. Additionally, the trainees will undergo a rotation in the network of branches and the bank’s departments to better understand the nature of the banking sector. Through the “Innovation Challenge” project, academy trainees will also present new ideas to the executive management. The launching of this project came with the aim of stimulating the participants’ creativity and innovative solutions skills in the various elements and aspects they have learned about during their academy training.

Maryam Al-Nasralla

NBK Academy embodies a legacy of success spanning 15 years, and it’s specifically designed for young Kuwaiti university graduates who have successfully met the selection criteria for admission. It also includes internationally certified trainers to enable employees to acquire specialized banking skills. On this occasion, Maryam Al-Nasralla, Manager – Talent Management, Group Human Resources at National Bank of Kuwait, commented: “At NBK, we are strongly committed to attracting and upskilling young national competencies.

We do not simply recruit them but rather invest in them through intensive training programs, empowering them to become a driving force and a true added value that will spearhead the future of the banking sector”. Al-Nasralla added: “NBK Academy embodies our vision of investing in human capital, which aligns with our strategy to Kuwaitize jobs and support Kuwait’s economy. Through these initiatives, not only do we contribute to achieving the goals of Kuwait Vision 2035, but we also ensure a sustainable flow of national competencies capable of driving growth and innovation in the banking industry”.

Lastly, Al-Nasralla emphasized that the academy, which has a successful history spanning more than 15 years, aims to equip the new generation of national banking leaders with high skills in all specializations, including advanced technical aspects, such as AI, data analysis, and leadership and behavioral skills. This type of training ensures a dynamic workforce capable of achieving the bank’s objectives of building a sustainable future, improving services, and achieving steady growth in business activities and expansion plans at the local and regional levels.

 WASHINGTON: Acting Director General of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Waleed Al-Bahar affirmed the Arab Coordination Group’s (ACG) commitment to adopting effective strategies to meet future development requirements and global economic transformations.

Speaking to KUNA during ACG’s 50th anniversary celebration in Washington D.C. late Wednesday, attended by Acting Finance Minister Dr. Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, Al-Bahar congratulated Kuwait Fund for its role as a founding member in 1975. He emphasized the group’s vital contribution to stimulating economic growth and social progress in developing nations across the globe.

Al-Bahar noted that the Fund continuously strives to enhance its collective development efforts in cooperation with ACG institutions to promote sustainable regional and international economic growth.Since its inception, ACG has financed more than 13,000 development projects in over 160 countries, supporting key sectors such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

He stressed the group’s dedication to aligning with the next phase of development by adopting adaptive strategies to address the fast-changing global economic landscape. Al-Bahar expressed pride in Kuwait Fund’s partnerships within the ACG framework, contributing to financing initiatives that drive prosperity and progress in developing countries.

The golden jubilee celebration was held under the theme “United in Cooperation and Development for a Sustainable Future,” reflecting the group’s shared vision to empower nations and achieve lasting positive impact. The event gathered leaders from both public and private sectors, investors, and prominent figures from political and economic circles, underscoring the group’s enduring influence in advancing global development.The celebration served as a milestone in the Arab Coordination Group’s journey, reaffirming its role as a strategic partner in fostering collective action and sustainable growth across the developing world. — AFP