New ministers vow to meet citizens’ aspirations, follow leadership directives

• Several pressing issues and files are highlighted for the new ministers, including resolving competency conflicts between state authorities, eliminating bureaucratic processes, completing digital transformation and restructuring some government departments.

After being sworn in by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Monday, the four new ministers commenced their duties, emphasizing their commitment to work, achieve results, and follow the political leadership’s directives to meet citizens’ aspirations, according to Al Qabas newspaper.

Several pressing issues and files are highlighted for the new ministers, including accelerating projects, resolving competency conflicts between state authorities, improving performance, filling leadership vacancies, eliminating bureaucratic processes, completing digital transformation, restructuring some government departments, and empowering young national talents.

Education reform, university vacancies, and combating test fraud

In the education sector, Dr. Nader Abdullah Mohammad Al-Jallal, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Education, faces challenges such as reforming the education system, filling vacant leadership positions at Kuwait University, combating fraud and test leakage in high schools, and addressing other key issues.

Economic reform, increasing non-oil revenues

Nora Suleiman Al-Fassam, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs, faces urgent tasks, including completing the government’s work program, economic reform, financing the budget deficit, reducing spending on certain budget items, increasing non-oil revenues, reconsidering the pricing of government goods and services, and approving tax reform projects.

Controlling market prices

Khalifa Abdullah Dhahi Ajeel Al-Askar, Minister of Commerce and Industry, has priorities that include controlling market prices, improving the business environment, developing the National Fund for Small Enterprises, and streamlining commercial license procedures for entrepreneurs and investors.

Opportunities for young national talents

For Abdullatif Hamed Hamad Al-Meshari, Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, key issues involve managing expatriate affairs in municipal sectors, providing opportunities for young national talents, accelerating residential projects and new city developments, reducing the waiting time for housing, and appointing capable leaders in municipal and housing sectors.

Strengthening the national economy

Khalifa Abdullah Dhahi Ajeel Al-Askar, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that strengthening the national economy, ensuring food security, and improving the business environment are his top priorities. Ajeel Al-Askar stressed that the ministry’s focus during the upcoming phase will be on enhancing the national economy to achieve sustainable development.

“We will focus on making major improvements to the business environment, facilitating procedures, supporting domestic and foreign investment, simplifying company establishment processes, and developing commercial legislation,” Ajeel Al-Askar said after assuming office on Monday.

Ajeel Al-Askar emphasized the political leadership’s commitment to ensuring full food security by diversifying import sources, increasing domestic food production, and expanding storage capacity. He highlighted the need for cooperation between government institutions involved in the food and ration sectors and specialized private sector companies to achieve these goals.

Ajeel Al-Askar continued, “The confidence of the political leadership and its focus on developing the economic system should enable us to enhance Kuwait’s service and commercial sectors in ways that benefit citizens directly.”

He added that “Our priorities will include encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting small, medium, and emerging enterprises, and strengthening the role of the private sector through various programs.”

He explained the importance of improving the industrial sector and developing policies to support Kuwaiti industries and national products within competitive standards. He also highlighted the need to expand the Kuwaiti export base and develop plans to open new markets for Kuwaiti products, in accordance with international standards.

Improving quality control systems

The minister stated that improving quality control systems to ensure product safety, price control in the local market, and consumer protection is a top priority for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Key tasks of the Ministry of Finance

1. Completing the government’s work program assigned by the former Minister of Finance.
2. Economic reform and budget deficit financing.
3. Reducing spending on certain items in the general budget.
4. Increasing non-oil revenues and reconsidering the pricing of government goods and services.
5. Approving tax reform projects.

Vital municipal and residential priorities

1. Addressing the issue of expatriates in municipal sectors.
2. Providing opportunities for young national talent.
3. Accelerating the development of residential projects and new cities.
4. Reducing wait times for housing.
5. Appointing effective leaders in municipal and residential sectors.
6. Streamlining documentation processes to speed up progress.

Improving the quality of education

Dr. Nader Abdullah Mohammad Al-Jallal, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Education expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for the confidence placed in him by assuming the ministerial portfolio.

In a press statement following his swearing-in, Al-Jallal expressed pride in the political leadership’s trust in appointing him to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Acting Ministry of Education. He highlighted that the education sector is a crucial pillar for comprehensive development in our country. It is an essential sector that plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future by preparing human capital to compete on regional and international levels.

He affirmed his full commitment to developing the education sector in line with the directives of the political leadership and the state’s vision. He emphasized his goal to enhance education quality, improve scientific research, support innovation, and expand international cooperation by building strategic partnerships with global universities and research institutions.

This includes exchanging experiences, developing joint educational and research programs, leveraging successful international practices, and empowering young people through educational and training opportunities to develop their skills and achieve their ambitions, thereby contributing effectively to a knowledge economy.

Minister Al-Jallal said, “We look forward to working with everyone to build an education system characterized by flexibility, creativity, and adaptability to global changes, preparing our children to become future leaders in all fields.”

He added, “I invite our partners—academics, researchers, teachers, students, parents, and all members of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well as its subsidiaries and the Ministry of Education—to work together with a team spirit to achieve our common goals and elevate our country’s reputation in scientific forums under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Combating cheating, revamping curricula top priorities

1. Developing education and defining educational functions.
2. Eliminating cheating and preventing test leaks in secondary education.
3. Revamping curricula and modernizing teaching methods.
4. Promoting scientific research and encouraging innovation.
5. Enhancing Kuwait University and filling leadership vacancies.
6. Improving emission regulations and advancing educational outcomes.