KUWAIT: Kuwait signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Korean company to develop and operate the South Saad Al-Abdullah New City as a world-class smart city. During the 7th Smart City forum, Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Abdullatif Al-Mishari emphasized the importance of the partnership with the Republic of Korea in developing infrastructure and housing projects.
He highlighted ongoing negotiations to develop parts of South Saad Al-Abdullah City with joint Kuwaiti and Korean expertise. "Today, we gather to strengthen the cooperative relationship between the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) and Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH). The partnership between Kuwait and Korea in the construction sector has deep roots, built on a long history of cooperation, particularly in infrastructure.”
"Since 2016, Kuwait and Korea have collaborated on over 250 projects valued at over $50 billion, significantly contributing to Kuwait’s national development plans. We have established a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Housing of Kuwait and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport of Korea. This partnership focuses on new city development, and we are currently negotiating to develop parts of the city.”
He noted that a significant milestone was marked by signing an agreement that outlines bilateral collaboration on the smart city design, affirming that Kuwait is committed to fostering a lasting partnership that will enhance the economies of both our countries and provide a welcoming environment for Korean companies interested in working in Kuwait.
Park, Chong-Suk, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the State of Kuwait, said the journey to a smarter future began in 2016, with a partnership that combines Korea’s technological expertise with Kuwait’s ambition to create resilient, efficient, and livable cities. "Today’s exchange of a renewed MoU marks an important new chapter in our collaboration. This agreement will propel our partnership forward and help us achieve even greater milestones in the years ahead. With initiatives like the K-City Network, we aim to empower South Saad Al-Abdullah Smart City, bringing Kuwait to the forefront of innovation in smart city solutions.”
The Korean Ambassador noted: "By embracing IoT-powered urban systems, renewable energy, and digital twin platforms, we can create cities that inspire and support the needs of future generations. The challenges of the 21st century demand visionary solutions that smart city partnerships, like that between Kuwait and Korea, strive to provide. Smart technologies are more than tools; they are pathways to livable, sustainable, and efficient cities that will serve generations to come.”
Throughout the forum, held under the theme "Smart Cities and Innovative Urban Management: Enhancing City Maintenance Using Smart Technologies”, participants delved into a variety of topics related to smart city management technology, including IoT-powered urban management, Renewable energy integration and micro grids, planning and management of city through digital twin platforms, and smart road maintenance.