Kuwait–Korea Forum charts path for deeper cooperation in Digital Transformation and AI
Korean Chargé d’Affaires: We aspire to manage and operate Kuwait International Airport
The Times Kuwait Report
The Kuwait–Korea Digital Transformation Forum 2025, held in downtown Kuwait City, brought together government officials, academics, and technology experts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in collaboration with the Central Agency for Information Technology, the Kuwait University, and the Arab Open University, the forum served as a platform to exchange expertise, explore joint digital initiatives, and align efforts with Kuwait Vision 2035 toward building a smarter, more connected future.
The Korean Chargé d’Affaires, Kim Hye-jin, emphasized the importance of the forum as a platform to explore ways of enhancing digital cooperation between Korea and Kuwait, leveraging Korea’s advanced technological capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
In a statement to reporters, Kim noted that Kuwait enjoys strong infrastructure in various sectors, adding that Korea is currently contributing to major projects, such as the management and operation of Terminal 4 at Kuwait International Airport. She revealed that Korea aspires to expand its services to comprehensively improve the airport’s quality and management—reflecting the beginning of a new partnership in digital transformation.
Kim highlighted Korea’s high technological and innovative capacities, which can play a pivotal role in supporting Kuwait Vision 2035. Both nations, she said, aim to utilize modern technologies to enhance digital infrastructure and develop advanced government services.
She stressed that cooperation will not be limited to the public sector, but will also include the private sector, as integration between both is essential for progress and innovation in digital services.
Regarding Kuwait’s role in the field of AI, Kim affirmed that Kuwait possesses great potential, particularly in digital identity and e-government services, which provide a fertile ground for developing more advanced digital projects. She also pointed out that some neighboring countries have already begun establishing large data canters in cooperation with global tech firms, underscoring the importance of Kuwait investing in this vital sector.
On the Kuwaiti side, Abdulkarim Al-Fawzan, Head of the Research and Studies Sector at the Central Agency for Information Technology, reviewed Kuwait’s digital transformation journey and the achievements made so far, highlighting the state’s efforts to improve public services and enhance institutional efficiency.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ali Al-Sayegh, Professor of Public Administration at Kuwait University and a specialist in digital government transformation policies, noted that the world has moved beyond the stage of “e-government” to what is now known as “digital government” and “AI-driven governance.” He emphasized that the forum serves as an important opportunity to exchange expertise between Kuwait and Korea in applying digital transformation models and addressing potential challenges.
Dr. Al-Sayegh described Korea as one of the world’s leading countries in implementing digital transformation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The forum included two keynote lectures delivered by Kuwaiti and Korean experts, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Afnan Al-Khaldi from the Arab Open University. Participants included experts from Samsung, Sionic AI, the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP), and Kuwait University, who exchanged insights on digital government, data governance, and AI-driven innovation.
The event drew around 100 participants from both countries, including officials, academics, and representatives from the industrial sector—reflecting the growing interest in digital transformation policies and innovation-focused cooperation.
