ShareKUWAIT: Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi stressed on Tuesday the importance of continuing to launch unified Gulf initiatives for youth in the fields of education, training, innovation, scientific research, sports and culture to provide a supportive and stimulating environment for them to develop and innovate and to enable them to participate effectively in building their societies. This came in a speech by Minister Al-Mutairi while chairing the 38th meeting of the Gulf Ministers of Youth and Sports, held in Kuwait in the presence of the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Al-Budaiwi and the ministers of youth and sports from the GCC countries.
At the beginning of his speech, Minister Al-Mutairi conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, along with their wishes for the success of this meeting and for achieving its desired goals in serving the path of joint Gulf cooperation and the advancement of our countries and our youth.
He said that “the meeting represents an important milestone in the path of joint Gulf action to shape the future of Gulf youth,” noting that its success requires commitment to transforming these bright visions to support Gulf youth into programs and initiatives that can be implemented and measured by their impact, that address their needs, and provide them with the opportunities they deserve. He added that “the GCC countries possess tremendous youth energies that represent a fundamental tributary to achieving sustainable development, and working to direct them in the right way requires everyone to intensify efforts to develop policies and programs that enhance their capabilities and open new horizons for growth and excellence.”
Minister Al-Mutairi explained that empowering youth lies in providing them with opportunities to launch into entrepreneurship, innovation and technology, given their creative energies and exceptional capabilities that qualify them to provide innovative solutions that enhance the development process and enable them to translate their ideas and ambitions into projects that contribute to building their countries and elevating the capabilities of our countries at regional and international levels.
He stated that instilling the values of volunteering and initiative among young people is a fundamental pillar in building a conscious and influential youth personality that is proud of its common Gulf identity and aware of its role in continuing the process of construction and development, indicating that the Gulf countries’ journey in supporting youth has formed a beacon for ambitious youth who seek to excel on the global stage.
Minister Al-Mutairi stressed that the partnership between the government sector, the private sector, and civil society has become an urgent necessity to enhance efforts to empower youth and develop their capabilities as a collective responsibility that requires the integration of roles and the unification of efforts in order to achieve common goals and provide them with the space to contribute to shaping the future of their countries.
He pointed out that sports have become an essential element in enhancing the spirit of competition and creativity among young people, stressing that the Gulf countries have proven their ability to consolidate their position in this field by hosting and organizing many major sporting events at regional and international levels. This success resulted from careful planning, investment in sports infrastructure, supporting youth energies, and enabling them to participate effectively in organization and competition.
Minister Al-Mutairi expressed the Gulf people’s optimism for the future through hosting major sports events that provide greater opportunities for Gulf youth to innovate and excel, thereby consolidating the region’s position as a global sports center. He congratulated our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on winning the bid to host the AFC Asian Cup (2027) and the World Cup Finals (2034).
He expressed full confidence in the Kingdom’s ability to organize these two global sporting events with the highest levels of excellence and creativity, reflecting its leading position and great potential in hosting major events. Minister Al-Mutairi extended his sincere thanks and gratitude to Qatar for its dedicated efforts and tireless work during its previous presidency of the Council, which effectively contributed to enhancing youth and sports cooperation. He praised the role of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council and all those responsible for organizing this meeting for their significant efforts.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Council, Jasem Al-Budaiwi, said in his speech at the meeting that “youth are at the forefront of the concerns of the leaders of our Gulf countries due to their pivotal role in achieving sustainable development, as they are the driving force behind building a prosperous future.” Al-Budaiwi added that “based on this vision, the GCC countries have been keen to empower youth, enhance their participation in various sectors , and create a supportive environment for them to be creative, innovative, and pioneering, contributing to achieving their aspirations and ambitions. They have also included the needs of youth in their national strategies in a way that keeps pace with global changes and enhances optimal investment in human capital.”
He explained that Gulf societies are young, which requires providing this group with promising opportunities to build the future of their countries. He expressed his pride in the GCC countries’ remarkable progress in global innovation and youth development indices at both the Arab and international levels, embodying the success of the policies and strategies adopted by the GCC countries to enhance the status of youth.
He stressed the keenness of the GCC countries to continue this journey and enhance Gulf cooperation to launch qualitative initiatives that keep pace with the aspirations of youth and support their effective contributions to building a prosperous future for our countries and societies. He emphasized the importance of joint Gulf action and continuous coordination to enhance the youth journey with the support of ministries and youth organizations in the GCC countries.
Al-Budaiwi also asserted that the Cooperation Council will persist in its efforts to enhance the status of youth and achieve the visions of our national countries toward a brighter future, extending his sincere thanks and gratitude to Minister Al-Mutairi for the generous hosting and strenuous efforts in organizing this meeting. Al-Budaiwi praised the sports and youth achievements made by the Gulf countries recently, illustrating the interest and care of the leaders of the GCC countries for these two important sectors, and congratulated Kuwait on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of National Day and the 34th anniversary of Liberation Day. — KUNA
