KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Cabinet on Tuesday urged concerned bodies to develop its electronic systems and applications to raise their efficiency and protect the state’s digital infrastructure. Led by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace, the Cabinet watched a presentation by Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Communication Affairs Omar Al-Omar about the recent global IT disruption.

Minister Al-Omar assured other Cabinet members that Kuwait dealt immediately with that incident as concerned bodies took some measures, topped with opening an operation room, a hotline to receive local complaints, and channels for communications with global service providers. Sharida Abdullah Al-Maousherji, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, said after the meeting.

Al-Omar noted that government applications and electronic systems have not been affected by that global glitch, due to continued efforts made by the government in enhancing its electronic systems and infrastructure. “We are paying much attention to information security and electronic infrastructure protection,” he said. In this regard, the Cabinet highly appreciated the big efforts made by the minister and the staff of Kuwait IT and cyber watchdogs.

In addition, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah briefed the ministers about the outcomes of the second international Baghdad conference on combating drugs. The minister further informed the ministers about the gist of his meetings, on the sidelines of the conference, with Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammad Al-Sudani and some senior officials, on means of enhancing bilateral ties in a manner that serves the supreme interests of the two countries.

Furthermore, Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi apprised the Cabinet of the signing of 63 contracts valued at KD 47 million to purchase medicines and medical supplies. This comes in line with the ministry’s eagerness to boost the medical sector and ensure the availability of all medicines and medical supplies, the minister stressed. The Cabinet watched a presentation by Minister of Finance, Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, and Acting Minister of Oil Anwar Al-Mudhaf on the final financial statements of the government financial departments for FY 2023-2024, which posted a deficit of KD 1.56 billion ($5.1 billion).

The Cabinet stressed the need to boost the cooperation of all the state’s bodies with the Ministry of Finance to stop any waste of public funds and increase non-oil revenues. The Cabinet approved the drafts regarding the final financial statements of independent and attached institutions for FY 2023-2024 and referred them to His Highness the Amir. Finally, the Cabinet reviewed the expectation pace of the 2024 tourist projects and thanked the Touristic Enterprises Company for its sincere efforts to develop and implement these projects. — KUNA