PARIS: The third edition of the Gulf Vision 2025 conference officially opened Tuesday in Paris, bringing together officials from Gulf and French governments, alongside business leaders, innovators, and policymakers. The event, held under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to usher in “a new era of cooperation” between France and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, with Kuwait actively participating through its Embassy in France.

Organized by Business France, the two-day forum is themed “From Ambitious Visions to Tangible Impact: A New Era of Cooperation.” It serves as a strategic platform to deepen economic ties in the face of global economic transformations and mutual efforts to build more integrated, diversified economies.

Kuwait plays a natural strategic role in this context, said Axel Baroux, Business France’s Director for the Near and Middle East, in an interview with KUNA. He noted that Kuwait Vision 2035 aligns closely with France’s 2030 Roadmap, highlighting the potential for joint economic transformation. “The 2025 edition represents a turning point in economic relations between France and the GCC,” he said. “By linking France 2030 with Gulf visions and transforming dialogue into concrete cooperation and actionable projects.” Baroux emphasized that the event offers direct access for French companies to GCC decision-makers and vice versa, paving the way for long-term, high-impact partnerships. The idea “is to turn networking into contracts,” he added. The conference also aims to “serve as a bridge for Gulf capital, including from Kuwait, into Europe.”

A growing economic relationship

According to Baroux, France is currently Kuwait’s top European investor and the eighth globally, with major roles in energy, infrastructure, and transport. More than 50 percent of European companies operating in Kuwait are French, collectively employing over 2,100 people. He added that cooperation is expanding into sectors like healthcare, education, services, and green technology, all of which align with Kuwait’s economic diversification goals. France is Kuwait’s fourth-largest customer and tenth-largest supplier.

The conference’s agenda reflects shared priorities, including renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, smart infrastructure, and education. Top French officials attended the conference’s opening ceremony, including Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Pascal Cagni, Chairman of the board of Business France. They highlighted the growing need for joint action in energy transition, AI, healthcare, and talent development.

Kuwait projects in focus

For Kuwaiti stakeholders, the event spotlights development opportunities in areas such as airports, ports, solar energy, recycling, AI, vocational education, and smart agriculture. Baroux highlighted health as a sector where France can play a transformative role. “Kuwait’s health sector accounts for 5.1 percent of its GDP and has seen major investments in infrastructure, prevention, and treatment—areas where France has strong technical and industrial expertise,” he said.

Baroux added that Business France provides Kuwaiti companies with specialized advisors to support entry into the French market, offering legal and financial consultation, matchmaking, and links to research centers. Baroux concluded with an invitation to Kuwaiti investors and decision-makers, encouraging them to join “the ambitious and open economic dialogue” offered by Gulf Vision 2025. “France is committed to long-term partnerships grounded in innovation and shared development,” he said.

KUWAIT: Ambassador Tareq Al-Bannai, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform, says reforming the UN’s most powerful body is not just inevitable—it is essential to restore trust among member states and their peoples, particularly in the Arab world. In a wide-ranging interview with UN News published on May 29, Al-Bannai acknowledged the growing sense of disillusionment among Arab populations over the Council’s failure to address regional crises, especially the ongoing situation in Gaza. “Honestly, that feeling is understandable—especially from an Arab perspective,” he said. “We see our issues discussed but without solutions. We see resolutions passed, but not implemented—especially in our region. So, of course, there’s frustration and despair.”

‘1945 is not 2025’

Al-Bannai has chaired the IGN process for nearly three years, a role assigned to him by the President of the General Assembly. His term is set to conclude in September. As chair, he has worked to mediate longstanding divisions between member states over how to expand the council and reform its structure and working methods. Although the negotiations have yet to produce consensus, Al-Bannai remains optimistic. “I assure you, and I can confidently say: everyone sees the importance of reforming our council,” he said.

One of the core challenges, he explained, is that the current council reflects a post-World War II power structure that no longer matches today’s geopolitical realities. “1945 is not 2025,” Al-Bannai said. “We took a snapshot of the world in 1945 and expected that this image would remain prevailing and permanent until today. But everyone knows that politics is ever-changing, and so are international relations.”

Arab voices left behind

For many in the Arab world, the UN Security Council’s perceived inaction on Palestine—and its inability to reach consensus due to the veto power held by the five permanent members—has called into question the credibility of the entire United Nations system. “When we see the council failing to fulfill its tasks and responsibilities, as we’ve seen repeatedly in recent years—especially regarding Gaza—we see the image of the United Nations shaken in the eyes of these peoples. The UN’s credibility vanishes,” he said. Al-Bannai argued that the frustration is not just political—it strikes at the heart of the UN’s legitimacy. “The United Nations is the shared home of the world’s peoples. And if this house is flawed, we won’t achieve the desired results,” he said.

Despite the political deadlock, he remains committed to steering the IGN process forward. He said there is broad agreement that the council must become more representative of today’s world—particularly of regions like Africa, Asia, and the Arab world, which remain underrepresented despite shouldering the majority of issues on the council’s agenda. “If we agree that there will be an expansion in the permanent membership with full rights—including the veto—then there must be an Arab country represented,” he stated. “Arab states are divided between Asia and Africa. Especially since the Security Council’s agenda is packed with Arab and African issues. Together, they represent about 70 percent of the council’s agenda.”

What’s stalling progress?

Expanding the Security Council has raised deeper questions about who qualifies for a permanent seat. Currently, the council consists of five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. But if new permanent seats are added, Ambassador Al-Bannai said the selection criteria would become another obstacle. “the (UN) Charter currently sets criteria for elected members only—it does not set any standards for permanent members,” he said. “This raises the question: If we expand the permanent category, what should the criteria be? Population size? Nuclear capability? Economic status? Military strength?”

Beyond conventional measures like population, military power, or economic strength, Ambassador Al-Bannai emphasized that a broader set of values should guide any future expansion of the Security Council. “We must also consider other criteria,” he said, “such as a country’s commitment to the UN Charter, its humanitarian contributions around the world, and its participation in international agreements—whether in human rights, disarmament, or other critical areas.” The debate goes hand-in-hand with ongoing negotiations about how many new seats the council should accommodate. “Yes, there are countries calling for expansion in both categories,” he confirmed, referring to permanent and elected members. While most countries agree on increasing the total number of seats to between 21 and 27, there are strong and competing demands: African countries want two permanent seats, Arab states are asking for one, as are small island developing states and the Islamic group. “We haven’t yet found the best path forward,” he said. He stressed that any expansion must also preserve the council’s effectiveness and cost-efficiency.

Despite the repeated disappointments, Al-Bannai stressed the importance of holding on to the UN Charter and international legal frameworks. “We must have hope,” he said. “International law and the UN Charter are our safety valve. We—Arab countries and other developing nations—are mostly peaceful. Most of us are small states. Most of our populations are young. The future is ours.” He added: “The best way to avoid descending into a world ruled by the law of the jungle is to uphold faith in international law, humanitarian law, and the UN Charter.”

KUWAIT: Kuwait is mobilizing its scientific expertise and emergency response systems to safeguard the environment and public health, as officials brace for potential fallout from the ongoing military escalation between Iran and the Zionist entity. Amid rising fears over chemical, radiological, and environmental risks following airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Dr Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem convened a coordination meeting Monday with senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR).

“The meeting focused on following up on the latest regional developments and reviewing preparedness to address any potential environmental repercussions resulting from these developments,” the ministry said in a statement.

Al-Mukhaizeem emphasized the importance of continued coordination between agencies and “taking all necessary precautionary measures to protect the country’s vital resources and mitigate any negative impacts that may arise from the current regional situation.” The meeting was attended by senior figures including Dr Adel Al-Zamil, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, and Dr Munther Al-Hasawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs, alongside Dr Nasser Al-Juwaisri, Director of Radiation Prevention. Leading the KISR delegation was Director General Dr Faisal Al-Humaidan.

Minister Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem chairs a meeting with officials from KISR, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy on Monday.

Scientists on board

KISR experts – Dr Abdullah Al-Enezi, Director of the Environment and Climate Change Program; Dr Yousef Al-Osairi, specialist in hydro-environmental modeling of the Arabian Gulf and Kuwait Bay; and Dr Mansour Mahmoud Ahmed, an expert in water treatment and desalination technologies – presented advanced simulation systems and research aimed at evaluating and forecasting environmental impacts under various conflict scenarios.

Separately, the National Guard reinforced its role in Kuwait’s emergency readiness through a visit from the KISR delegation to the Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Center for Chemical Defense and Radiological Monitoring. According to a National Guard statement, Undersecretary Lt Gen Hashim Al-Rifai discussed ways to enhance collaboration, train personnel, and share scientific expertise. The delegation was briefed on the center’s responsibilities in monitoring chemical and radiological pollutants. “The delegation praised the advancements in the National Guard’s chemical defense systems,” the statement noted, adding that further cooperation would strengthen Kuwait’s environmental security under the current regional conditions.

No abnormal radiation

Kuwait’s National Guard confirmed Sunday that the country’s radiological and chemical situation remains “normal and stable”, despite rising regional tensions. In a joint statement to Al-Akhbar TV, Col Khaled Lami, Chief of Operations and Training at the center, said the Guard operates 29 land monitoring stations across border and urban areas, as well as 15 sea stations in Kuwaiti waters, all capable of detecting chemical and radiological threats in real time. “The monitoring system has been working nonstop since its launch in 2015, and all measures are routine, not tied to any specific event or development,” Lami explained. Dr Al-Hasawi, who also attended Monday’s meeting at the Ministry of Electricity, confirmed that the Ministry of Health operates a parallel nationwide monitoring system involving both fixed and mobile stations. “No abnormal radiological levels have been recorded, and all readings are within normal limits in Kuwait,” he reassured Sunday. — Agencies