ABU DHABI: Head of Kuwait’s National Center for Cybersecurity, Major General Mohammad Bouarki, has welcomed the proposal of Saudi Arabia to establish a specialized Arab ministerial council in light of the increase in cyber threats worldwide. In remarks to KUNA during his participation in the Regional Cybersecurity Week held in Abu Dhabi, Bouraki stressed the importance of Kuwait’s participation and representation in this important forum, as it is one of the most important international platforms to unify joint Arab efforts in this field.
Bouarki affirmed that establishing an Arab Ministerial Council for Cybersecurity is an important step to enhance the efforts of Arab states to reach a secure cyberspace. Further, he said that the National Center seeks, through its strategy, which is in line with Kuwait Vision 2035, to provide a secure cyberspace that supports and protects national interests from online attacks and piracy operations.
The Regional Cybersecurity Week kicked off in Abu Dhabi on Monday, organized by the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council, with the participation of 100 experts and speakers from 70 countries, including member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in addition to 10 international organizations, in cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Arab Regional Center for Cybersecurity (ARCC). Meanwhile, the chairman of the Arab Regional Cybersecurity Center (ARCC), Badr Al-Salehi, underscored the importance of upgrading the cybersecurity industry to protect Arab countries against cyberattacks and hacking.
The center encourages cooperation among the Arab countries to utilize the latest technologies in the field of cybersecurity, he said in statements on the sidelines of the Regional Cybersecurity Week. The regional event reached recommendations for collective action to address the trans-border threats of cyberattacks, including conducting drills to simulate responses to such attacks, he pointed out.
Al-Salehi noted that it is unlikely for any country to tackle the trans-border cyber threat individually without international cooperation. He urged the Arab countries to build the capacity of national cadres and develop their own cybersecurity systems with a view to alleviating reliance on imported technologies. Since its establishment in 2012, the ARCC has developed more than 190 cybersecurity projects and initiatives in 50 countries, including 22 Arab countries.
The center works out plans for upgrading the cybersecurity infrastructure, detecting possible hacker attacks, and introducing the latest technologies, Al-Salehi added. The Regional Cybersecurity Week, hosted by the UAE Cybersecurity Council, gathered 100 experts from 70 countries, including Kuwait, and 10 international organizations. - KUNA