Minister of Public Works: Kuwait committed to implementing its part of the Gulf railway linking agreement

Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works, Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan, affirmed in Manama today, Sunday, that the General Agreement for linking the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to the railway project represents a historic milestone in the trajectory of joint Gulf cooperation, marking its transition from the planning stage to the implementation phase, in line with the directives of the GCC heads of state.

This statement was made by Al-Mashaan to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following her participation, alongside the heads of delegations from GCC member states, in the signing ceremony of the General Agreement for the GCC railway project. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, on the sidelines of the 30th meeting of the Transport and Communications Ministers Committee, hosted by the Kingdom and chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, with the attendance of GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi.

Al-Mashaan also emphasized that the project constitutes a strategic pillar for enhancing economic integration and connectivity among GCC member states. It contributes to facilitating the movement of passengers and goods, supporting intra-GCC trade, and improving the efficiency of the transport and logistics system, thereby opening broader horizons for cooperation and sustainable development among the member states.

She stated that Kuwait, as the starting point of the project, is committed to implementing its portion in coordination with the Gulf Railway Organization and the member states. She clarified that the Kuwaiti segment of the project spans approximately 111 kilometers, extending from the Shaddadiya area to Al-Nuayibah on the border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Al-Mashaan stressed the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation among member states and relevant authorities to ensure the integration of project implementation phases and achieve its developmental and economic objectives, thereby strengthening the momentum of joint Gulf cooperation.

She praised the role played by the Gulf Railway Organization in monitoring project activities, coordinating among member states, and unifying technical and implementation efforts, which contributes to accelerating the pace of work and achieving integration in the construction of the Gulf railway network.

Furthermore, Al-Mashaan commended the efforts of the GCC General Secretariat, under the leadership of Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi, in following up on the project up to the signing of the agreement. She also expressed her appreciation for the generosity of the Kingdom of Bahrain in hosting the event and its excellent organization.