Representing His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Oil Minister Tariq Suleiman Al-Roumi inaugurated the first forum and exhibition for Kuwaiti environmental engineers, organized by the Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection during the period from the 5th to the 6th of this month.
Oil Minister Tariq Al-Roumi affirmed that the first Environmental Engineers Forum and Exhibition is a pioneering step that reflects Kuwait’s interest in environmental sciences, their importance, and their pivotal role in shaping the future.
Al-Roumi said that the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister for this forum reflects the wise leadership’s interest in this field, especially in light of the rapid global transformations and in keeping with international efforts in this regard.
He added that the oil sector is working with the Environment Public Authority and civil cooperation institutions on projects and initiatives aimed at greening, most notably planting mangrove trees in the Jahra Reserve to build a sustainable and environmentally friendly economy.
He explained that the oil sector has achieved successes in reducing gas flaring operations, as it has managed to reduce emissions resulting from these operations, and the flaring rate has been reduced from 17.2 percent in 2005 and 2006 to 0.51 percent, which reflects the sector’s practical commitment to environmental sustainability.
He emphasized the oil sector’s environmental commitment and responsibility to reduce emissions and adopt best practices and modern technologies that contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the sector’s activities in order to achieve environmental and economic sustainability, indicating that the oil sector has a strategy for energy transition by 2050 and achieving carbon neutrality in Kuwait by 2060.
Al-Rumi pointed to the oil sector’s interest in clean and alternative energy through its local initiatives and projects and its entry into strategic partnerships with leading global companies in the production of organic fuels, in order to diversify energy sources and promote innovation in the field of sustainable energy.
In turn, Dr. Wajdan Ali Al-Aqab, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection and Head of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the Forum, said in her speech: “Since the Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection began its journey fifty-one years ago, it has charted for itself an unconventional environmental pattern in its approach and engagement with environmental activities and events, and this has been reflected in its community programs and activities, as it has always been at the forefront of many issues and topics.”.
Al-Aqab added, “What we are doing today stems from this context. About ten years ago, the association envisioned the scientific and research future of the environment in an absolute way, due to its interconnectedness and overlap with all sectors and fields and its compatibility with global and national sustainable development plans. It launched a modern focus for its activities in conjunction with that, which is the call for high school students to study environmental sciences and environmental engineering at the university level.”.
The head of the Environmental Association stated, “The association’s efforts to qualify students and prepare the community for this modern university specialization with its active and influential future have been numerous and varied, until it achieved what it sought, which is the direction of a number of high school graduates to study environmental engineering. Year after year, the numbers increased until we had hundreds of these engineers whom we are celebrating today.”.
Dr. Al-Aqab, on behalf of her colleagues, the Board of Directors, the General Assembly, and the Environmental Engineers Team of the Association, praised His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, for his prompt and fatherly response to officially sponsor the first Kuwaiti Environmental Engineers Forum and Exhibition, a regional and Arab precedent recorded for our beloved Kuwait. She also commended the presence of Oil Minister Tariq Suleiman Al-Roumi, representing His Highness the Prime Minister, at the opening of the Forum and Exhibition, as well as praising the participating entities, institutions, bodies, and companies, represented by that national elite that graces the opening ceremony, the scientific sessions, and the halls and pavilions of the accompanying exhibition.
In the same context, the head and founder of the Kuwaiti Environmental Engineers Team, Engineer Sarah Abdul-Redha Al-Ramzi, pointed out that the first Kuwaiti Environmental Engineers Forum and Exhibition “is a dream that has come true after efforts and preparations at various levels until it gained the honor of being sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, and with the presence of His Highness’s representative at the opening ceremony, Tariq Suleiman Al-Roumi, Minister of Oil, which is a true embodiment of the wise leadership’s interest in supporting national competencies in various fields, especially environmental specialties, and is a great incentive for environmental engineers in Kuwait towards more excellence and creativity in the various fields of environmental work.”.
Ms. Sarah Al-Ramzi pointed out that “a scientific venue to host the forum was a requirement that was in line with the content, aspirations, and goals of the forum, which focuses on a distinguished engineering science specialization. It was made possible to hold it in the Cultural Center at Kuwait University, which thus provided logistical support by supplying the venue for the forum and exhibition. Words cannot express our gratitude to this distinguished gathering of representatives of national entities participating in the events with their diverse content.”.
She stated that “the forum highlights the importance of national cadres specializing in environmental engineering and their contributions to sustainable development by providing a platform to showcase their innovations in an annual exhibition, where environmental engineers present their projects to the public, sector leaders and prominent government figures to promote greater recognition of environmental engineers within the private and governmental sectors in Kuwait and to highlight their vital role in driving sustainability.”.
For his part, Engineer Yousef Abdul-Redha Al-Ramzi, Vice President of the team and its official spokesperson, announced the official launch of the Environmental Engineers Platform, stressing that “the forum provides a space for these talented professionals to show what they can offer, in addition to presenting their creative projects and graduation projects to leaders of different sectors, elites and government figures, and highlighting the depth of experience that environmental engineers possess by focusing on the diversity of these projects in many fields.”.
Mr. Yousef Al-Ramzi explained, “This forum aims to improve the labor market’s perception of the potential of these engineers. Therefore, we are committed to making a real difference by helping environmental engineers gain recognition for their wide-ranging skills, in addition to opening up more job opportunities, and encouraging the widespread adoption of sustainable practices in both the public and private sectors. We hope to see more career paths and policy developments that include the national role played by Kuwaiti environmental engineers.”.
Each environmental engineer will have a booth to showcase their engineering project, often their graduation project, and present their innovative ideas and solutions across various fields. This exhibition allows engineers to connect directly with the public and industry leaders, highlighting their engineering capabilities in diverse areas. This inaugural forum paves the way for successful gatherings in the coming years, leading to the creation of a database documenting the excellence of these engineers in special forum publications.
This event is designed to foster an inclusive environment where seasoned professionals and emerging environmental engineers can exchange knowledge and collaborate, inspire more students to study environmental engineering and consider scholarships to broaden their experience, and the team hopes to encourage alliances with fields interested in promoting sustainable development practices for Kuwait's future. The invitation is open to a diverse group of participants, including Kuwaiti environmental engineering graduates, educators, industry leaders, and government policymakers to join our leading platform.
The organizing committee was keen to include five scientific sessions comprising twenty-five lectures presented by a group of experts, scientists and specialists in many related fields, in order to come up with a set of scientific and practical recommendations. Also, various national entities were keen to engage and participate in the accompanying exhibition with twenty-one pavilions.
