Kuwait Times, Wed, Oct 30, 2024 | Rabi al-Thani 27, 1446
Kuwaiti-Korean talks ongoing to develop South Saad Al-Abdullah
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.