Mubarak Al-Kabir seaport project starts on Boubyan

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah patronized and attended the foundation-stone-laying ceremony of Mubarak Al-Kabir Seaport that took place at Boubyan Island earlier on Wednesday.

Upon arrival at the site of the ceremony, HH the Amir was received by Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Dr Fadhel Safar, along with members of a welcoming committee.

In a speech on the occasion, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of State for Development Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad thanked HH the Amir for inaugurating the project, which, according to Sheikh Ahmad, bears great potentials and will achieve aspirations of the Kuwaiti people that had always desired the construction of this port in such a strategic and vital site in a bid to turn Kuwait into a financial and commercial hub.

On his part, Minister Safar said, in his speech, that the idea of strategically-developing Boubyan Island and benefiting from its location and unique nature came out of a vision to develop urban areas in Kuwait in order to transform the country into a regional and international financial center, with all economic and infrastructural aspects taken into account.

“The port project will be executed through four phases; as we have already begun with phase-1, which includes establishing expressways and railways connecting all parts of the island, as well as building bridges for cars and trains.

“Number of berths is expected to reach 60 with a depth of 20 meters each in order to accommodate large vessels. This would enable the port to receive incoming ships and stimulate cargo traffic, which would create new investment and job opportunities,” Minister Safar concluded.

On his part, Hyundai E and C CEO Kim Joong-kyum said “this year marks the 50th anniversary of Independence of the State of Kuwait, the 20th anniversary for Liberation and the 5th anniversary of His Highness the Amir assumption of power.

“On this joyful occasion, I am pleased and honored to speak to you on behalf of contractors for the groundbreaking ceremony of Boubyan Port. Hyundai EC was founded in 1947 and have served as a driving force for Korea’s economic growth for the last 60 years.

“With the experiences and technology thus accumulated, we will go out and turn the Mubarak Al-Kabir s eaport into the most representing, eco-friendly and multifunctional hub for harbor logistics, as well as the most pleasant residential area,” Kim said. He concluded by saying “I look forward to the continued support and encouragement from Kuwait’s government for the successful completion of the project”.

Then HH the Amir electronically launched the project before leaving the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi, senior sheikhs, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah and senior state officials