KUWAIT: President Joseph Aoun said the Lebanese people did not seek conflicts and there was an understanding that weapons should solely be in the hands of the state.

“I have always repeated the word dialogue because I believe it is the only way to reach the objective, and I also reiterate that diplomacy is the way to restore our sovereignty,” Aoun said in an exclusive interview with KUNA. “There are some voices who want to end the weapons’ file quickly, and I think that we can accomplish this objective but without rush and through preserving domestic peace,” he said.

Asked about the internal disputes, Aoun said there were no major differences among the Lebanese people providing “we comply with the constitution along with dialogue and discussions over the sticky issues.”

Aoun said reforms in the country would contribute to improving the living conditions as well as the relations with other countries, especially Arab and Gulf nations.

“This is the objective of my visits abroad, to restore relations and rebuild trust with other countries by explaining the reforms, the reconstruction of the state and its institutions, passing reforms, deployment of the army and security forces nationwide and keeping weapons in the hands of the Lebanese state,” he said.

“These are gradual steps and I believe we have made many strides. It is a long path and there is no going back, and everyone will see the changes which need time, but they are in the right direction,” he added. “We need to join hands for the sake of Lebanon and its people in order to get the country out of the conflicts and restore functions of institutions that organize the state,” he said.

Aoun arrived in Kuwait yesterday and was received by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This will be the first meeting with His Highness the Amir, said Aoun, to thank him for “Kuwait’s historic” role in realizing solutions during crises even since before the Taif agreement, which ended the civil war in Lebanon, citing the first “positive initiative” by Kuwait was in 1973.

Aoun said he and His Highness the Amir would be discussing ways of further boosting bilateral relations. “We have a common concern which is the internal unity in our countries.”

President Aoun had already visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and now Kuwait. “Ever since my election I was keen on returning Lebanon to the Arab fold and the return of Arabs to Lebanon, which began to materialize. I will also embark on an Arab tour to iron out outstanding issues. I would like to express gratitude for all Arab countries for honoring Lebanon’s demands.”

“Lebanon cannot be a base or a pathway for any harm to any Arab country. The role of Lebanon is to carry a message of peace and neutrality and be a place and a pathway for dialogue, tolerance and co-existence,” he said.

Asked about economic relations with the State of Kuwait, Aoun said the Arab Gulf country has been contributing to many development projects since the early 1960s. “The first loan for Kuwait for Beirut municipality was few months after the independence of the State of Kuwait all the way to the building or the silos at Beirut port,” he said.

Kuwait’s assistance continued, he noted, and included in the reconstruction efforts after the Israeli occupation’s aggression in 2006, rebuilding electricity, water and road infrastructures in southern Beirut and southern Lebanon, as well as schools.

Kuwait, he added, provided humanitarian assistance following the 2020 massive explosion of Beirut port. Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) expressed readiness to rebuild the silos. “I think Kuwait is ready to contribute to reconstruction of Lebanon as it has always been by its side,” he said.

Lebanon also needs foreign investments, but this required multiple reforms. “Investment needs reforms,” affirmed Aoun, citing a recent law that boost independence of the judiciary which would provide stability thus encourage investment.

“I think security and judiciary are important and coupled with economic and financial reforms in addition to the restructuring of the banking sector. It is a huge workshop, and we want it to succeed,” he said, and it was also one of the funding conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Aoun spoke about the Arab Summit and the Arab Economic and Social Summit, due in Baghdad on May 17, and said Lebanon sought a united Arab positions regarding the Palestinian cause. President Aoun meanwhile called on Kuwaitis to come and invest in Kuwait. He said Lebanon and Kuwait enjoyed solid bonds, citing the first Lebanese citizen to visit Kuwait was in 1915 and the first Middle East airlines landed in Kuwait in the 1940s. – KUNA

KUWAIT: Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, reaffirmed its position as a leading hub for academic excellence and healthcare innovation with the grand success of the GMU Career Fair & Industry Partners Meet 2025. This year’s event marked a significant milestone in the university’s journey toward empowering future healthcare professionals by bridging the gap between education and employment.

Themed “Empowering the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders,” the event brought together an impressive assembly of students, alumni, industry veterans and over 90 leading healthcare organizations. It provided a vibrant platform for aspiring professionals to engage directly with recruiters, learn from thought leaders, and explore career paths across diverse healthcare sectors. The initiative also showcased GMU’s ongoing efforts to align its academic vision with real-world demands through innovation, entrepreneurship and global industry collaboration.

The event was officially inaugurated by Dr Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, who has been instrumental in pioneering private medical education in the region. In his keynote address, Dr Moideen emphasized the critical need for adaptable, tech-savvy professionals in today’s healthcare landscape. “At GMU, we are not just educating students; we are shaping leaders who will redefine the future of healthcare through innovation, ethics and global perspectives,” he remarked.

Following the inauguration, attendees took part in a series of enriching panel discussions moderated by GMU’s academic leadership, including Prof Manda Venkatramana, Acting Chancellor, and Prof. Hesham Marei, Acting Vice Chancellor – Academics. These sessions focused on career readiness, healthcare education reform, industry expectations and leadership development. Distinguished HR professionals and executives from top hospitals and medical companies engaged students through workshops on CV writing, interview strategies, and portfolio building — providing practical insights and mentorship.

The event also featured interactive booths and networking pavilions representing major healthcare entities such as Aster, NMC, American Hospital, King’s College Hospital Dubai, Julphar, Abbott, and many others. Government and regulatory bodies including Dubai Police, Ajman Municipality, and the Emirates Health Services (EHS) also participated, reflecting the strong public-private collaboration fostered by GMU.

This year’s Industry Partners Meet also highlighted GMU’s new strategic directions, including the introduction of AI-powered healthcare curriculum modules, entrepreneurship incubators and global academic partnerships. These advancements, along with GMU’s robust research ecosystem and state-of-the-art Thumbay Medicity campus, reinforce its position as a trailblazer in academic healthcare transformation in the Middle East.

Applications are now open for the upcoming academic session at Gulf Medical University. With limited seats and high demand across all programs, prospective students are encouraged to apply early. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a working professional seeking to upskill in healthcare, GMU offers a world-class academic experience tailored to your ambitions. Visit www.gmu.ac.ae to explore programs and begin your journey toward a rewarding healthcare.

KUWAIT: In a new effort to support the growth and development of Kuwait’s national calibers, Burgan Bank participated in the annual Career Fair hosted by the American University of the Middle East (AUM) in search of ambitious individuals seeking to build a career in Kuwait’s banking and financial sector. This initiative comes as an extension to Burgan’s robust human capital development & sustainability strategy and dedicated contribution to the success of the national goals outlined in Kuwait Vision 2035. “We were delighted to participate once again in AUM’s annual Career Fair, and honored to receive two awards the ‘Elite Employment and Talent Development’ at AUM Corporate Award 2025,” commented Abdulwahab Jamal Abdulraheem, Executive Manager – Talent Acquisition at Burgan Bank.

“Our commitment to partaking in Kuwait’s renowned career fairs goes beyond our need for fresh talent to support Burgan’s continued growth. It stems from our robust talent acquisition strategy, which is invested in identifying the market’s needs and aspirations for a balanced and fulfilling career and professional experience. Our on-ground presence allows our team to have valuable conversations with some of Kuwait’s brightest young minds, which inspire and guide our continuous efforts to expand the professional experience we offer our employees.”

Abdulwahab Jamal Abdulraheem

This engagement, and the award-winning commitment to excellence it projected, reflects Burgan Bank’s broader purpose, as guided by its vision: “To be the most progressive bank in Kuwait, driven by our employees, customers and community.” Burgan’s mission reinforces this direction through its commitment to delivering outstanding customer experiences, leading with innovation, being an employer of choice, supporting the community, and driving prosperity for all stakeholders. Underpinning these efforts is considered a sustainable strategic approach to implementing Burgan’s core values ‘Ownership, Passion, Teamwork & Transparency’. In addition to Empowerment, Agility, and Innovation, which shape its people-first culture and progressive work environment.

Throughout the career fair, Burgan representatives were actively engaged with the event’s visitors, whereby they discussed the Bank’s professional experience at length, beginning with the market-leading employee benefits to the year-long learning and development opportunities, and the overall thriving work culture that defines the Burgan professional experience. In addition, the Bank’s representatives seized this opportunity to share vital banking awareness and financial literacy information with the event’s visitors, in line with Burgan’s continued support of the “Let’s Be Aware” (Diraya) campaign launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and Kuwait Banking Association (KBA), with the unanimous support of local banks.

It is worth noting that Burgan Bank, a certified Great Place to Work, continues to offer one of the best and most dynamic learning and development (L&D) programs in Kuwait’s banking sector, with wide opportunities that cater to Burgan Bank’s employee needs, interests, and preferred learning styles. This includes the flagship talent development program ‘Ro’ya’, which invests in the Bank’s future leaders, and ‘Entelaqah’, designed to introduce fresh graduates to the professional banking industry as well as many more initiatives.