PARTNERING FOR THE BETTER
TBY talks to Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of NATO, on the ICI-NATO Regional Centre and the role it will play in strengthening the relationship for a stable future.

BIOGRAPHY
Jens Stoltenberg was appointed as Secretary-General of NATO in 2014. He holds a postgraduate degree in economics from the University of Oslo. From 2000-2001 and 2005-2013, he served as Prime Minister of Norway. Under his leadership, the Norwegian government contributed Norwegian forces to various NATO operations. Stoltenberg is a strong supporter of enhanced transatlantic cooperation, including better burden sharing across the Atlantic. He has had a number of international assignments. These include chairing the UN High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence and the High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing. He was also UN Special Envoy on Climate Change.What does NATO envision with the opening of the ICI-NATO Regional Centre in Kuwait?
The opening of the ICI-NATO Regional Centre marked two important milestones: a milestone in the strong bond that unites NATO and Kuwait and a milestone in the blossoming partnership between NATO and the entire Gulf region. We owe a debt of gratitude to the State of Kuwait, and in particular Sheikh Thamer Ali Al-Sabah for his leadership and steadfast support. Furthermore, we are grateful to Kuwait for hosting this center, for being such a strong and valued NATO partner, and for its long-standing leadership in promoting regional security. NATO's Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) was designed to contribute to long-term regional security and stability. This center is a historic achievement, and NATO's first such presence in the Gulf region. We envision it to be a vital hub for cooperation between the alliance and Kuwait, as well as our other Gulf partners, including in our important fight against terrorism. We will work together in a range of different areas, including strategic analysis, civil emergency planning, military-to-military cooperation, and public diplomacy.
How will this center strengthen the relationships between the ICI members and NATO?
The security of the Gulf countries is directly linked to the security of all NATO allies. We face common security threats and we share the same aspirations for peace and stability. Working more closely together than ever before is essential, and for that we have now developed individual cooperation programs with all our ICI partners, tailored to their specific security interests and needs. The NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait aims to foster cooperation between NATO and ICI countries in the fields of the strategic and policy analysis, military-to-military cooperation, civil emergency planning, public diplomacy, and cultural awareness. The center will also facilitate the implementation of our individual cooperation programs and will allow us to reinforce our level of interoperability, which will be key in responding together to future crises. Modern security institutions and well-trained local forces represent our best weapons in the fight against violent extremism. NATO has a long history of working with partners to project stability beyond our borders, including through enhancing the defense capacities of its partners. In addressing the most pressing security challenges of our time, we are much stronger together than we are alone, and that is what this NATO-ICI Centre is all about—deepening trust, building cooperation, and working together to make our nations safer.
What are the reasons for the establishment of this regional center, particularly in Kuwait?
Kuwait has been a strong and dedicated NATO partner for many years and has been a driving force in building greater security and stability in the Gulf region. In 2015, we signed the NATO-Kuwait Transit Agreement to facilitate the transit of personnel and supplies to our NATO Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, and to make any future NATO activities in the region more effective. In 2004, Kuwait was the first country to join NATO's ICI and also the first ICI country to establish the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme with NATO. Today all four ICI countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE—have these cooperation programs with NATO. Our relationship with Kuwait and the other ICI partners reached a new level last year, when all four countries opened diplomatic missions to NATO. On the sidelines of the opening of the regional center, we held a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Kuwait, where we discussed regional security challenges and how we can work together to address them. As the regional center is the alliance's first such presence in the Gulf, it will be a vital hub for our practical cooperation. This is essential, because our security is directly linked. We have learned over the years that we are much stronger with allies and partners than we are alone.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Guest Speaker
Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister , Malaysia
TBY talks to Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, on the growing contribution that Islamic countries are making to the global economy and how Islamic financing can offer new opportunities to industry and academia.
read articleInterview
HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Minister, Commerce and Industry (MoCI)
TBY talks to HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Minister of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), on tools and strategies for diversifying the economy, the role of international players in supporting a wider range of sectors, and the rapidly developing food industry.
read articleInterview
HE Yousef Al-Ebraheem, Advisor , Al-Diwan Al-Amiri
TBY talks to HE Yousef Al-Ebraheem, Economic Advisor to the Al-Diwan Al-Amiri, on the need for a rejuvenation of Kuwait's infrastructure to support an economy that has come a long way and the role education will play in delivering the expertise required by the society.
read articleInterview
Dr. Khaled A. Mahdi, Secretary-General , Supreme Council for Planning & Development (GSSCPD)
TBY talks to Dr. Khaled A. Mahdi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning & Development (GSSCPD), on the breakdown of Kuwait's long-term economic plan, the KPIs that will benchmark its success, and what Vision 2035 means for the nature of the economy.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)
TBY talks to Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Director General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), on launching an investment promotion conference, attracting the right partners for PPP, and expectations for the year ahead.
read articleInterview
HE Dr. Mohammad M. Al-Zuhair, Executive Chairman, Kuwait National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development
TBY talks to HE Dr. Mohammad M. Al-Zuhair, Executive Chairman of the Kuwait National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development, on empowering young Kuwaitis, IT and entrepreneurialism, and the growth of fintech.
read articleFocus: Still all in the family?
Merchant families in Kuwait
Family-owned businesses play a major role in the Kuwaiti economy. However, with many approaching the third generation of management, they are starting to come across unique problems that may pose issues for the greater economy.
read articleInterview
HE Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Director, Environmental Public Authority (EPA)
TBY talks to HE Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Director of Environmental Public Authority (EPA), on how oil companies can contribute to Kuwait's vision on sustainability and the various projects that are coming to fruition.
read articleInterview
Dr. Samira S. Omar Asem, Director General, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
TBY talks to Dr. Samira S. Omar Asem, Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), on commercializing the green innovations coming from R&D initiatives, the role of collaboration across multiple sectors, and projects that we should expect to see more of in the future.
read articleInterview
Khaled Abdulrazzaq Al Khaled, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Boursa Kuwait Company
TBY talks to Khaled Abdulrazzaq Al Khaled, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Boursa Kuwait Company, on the takeover of the Kuwait Stock Exchange and the role the bourse plays in both the privatization of government entities and as a source of capital for family businesses.
read articleInterview
HE Essam Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq, Minister, Oil & Minister of Electricity and Water
TBY talks to HE Essam Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq, Minister of Oil & Minister of Electricity and Water, on cooperation with other ministries, the private sector's role in energy, and upcoming regulations.
read articleInterview
Ghalib Shlash Safouq, Assistant Undersecretary for the Construction Projects Sector, Ministry of Public Works
TBY talks to Ghalib Shlash Safouq, Assistant Undersecretary for the Construction Projects Sector at the Ministry of Public Works, on Kuwaiti companies, the country's healthcare facilities, and the role of international companies.
read articleInterview
Khaled K. Al Mashaan, Vice-Chairman & CEO, ALARGAN International Real Estate Company
TBY talks to Khaled K. Al Mashaan, Vice-Chairman & CEO of ALARGAN International Real Estate Company, on drivers of growth, operating throughout the region, and real estate prices in Kuwait.
read articleInterview
Tawfiq Ahmed Bin Sultan, Chairman, Middle East Telecommunications Company (METCO)
TBY talks to Tawfiq Ahmed Bin Sultan, Chairman of the Middle East Telecommunications Company (METCO), on e-government potential, the future of the economy, and the state of technology uptake in Kuwait.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA)
TBY talks to Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Director General of Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA), on his operational plans for the near future and turning Kuwait into a regional logistics hub.
read articleInterview
HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Acting Minister, State for Youth Affairs
TBY talks to HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Acting Minister of State for Youth Affairs, on e-platforms and blended learning programs, developing ICT skills, and preparing young people for tomorrow.
read articleInterview
Eng. Ali Hussein Al Youha, Secretary-General, National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters
TBY talks to Eng. Ali Hussein Al Youha, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, on the activities of the Council and works to preserve and enhance Kuwait's cultural heritage.
read article