BEIRUT: Kuwaiti entrepreneur Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi met with top Lebanese officials during his visit to Lebanon, including President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Minister of Telecommunications Charbel Hajj. The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral ties and exploring investment opportunities, particularly in the telecommunications and economic sectors.

President Aoun welcomed Al-Kharafi at Baabda Presidential Palace and emphasized the deep-rooted Lebanese-Kuwaiti relations and the importance of enhancing cooperation in various fields. He particularly stressed the need to activate economic and investment partnerships between the two countries.

Prime Minister Salam also received Al-Kharafi and discussed available investment prospects across different sectors in Lebanon, in light of recent governmental efforts to encourage and attract foreign investments. The premier praised the strong and historic ties between Lebanon and Kuwait and the close bonds shared by their people.

Al-Kharafi, Vice Chairman and CEO of Zain Group, also held talks with Telecommunications Minister Hajj at the ministry headquarters. The discussions focused on boosting collaboration in the telecom sector, with an emphasis on future joint projects between Zain Group and Lebanon. Al-Kharafi highlighted that “stability in Lebanon is a key factor for the return of investments and revitalization of the economy,” and underlined the importance of creating a conducive environment for developmental projects.

Hajj thanked Kuwait for its continued support to Lebanon and acknowledged the long-standing presence of the Kharafi family in the country. He also commended Zain’s contributions to the Lebanese telecom sector. During the meeting, he presented his vision for advancing the sector, particularly in relation to Law 431 and the ministry’s strategy to enhance sector efficiency in the coming years. Hajj also congratulated Al-Kharafi on his recent election as Chairman of Boursa Kuwait, wishing him success in his new role.