Kuwait: The Board of Trustees of the Arab Planning Institute held its first meeting for the 2025-2026 session in Kuwait on Thursday. According to Kuwait News Agency, Minister of Electricity, Water, Renewable Energy, Finance, and Acting Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs, Dr. Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives from member Arab states. The meeting marks a pivotal phase following the successful completion of the Institute's 2024-2025 annual plan, the final year of its ninth strategy (2020-2025). Dr. Al-Mukhaizeem praised Director General Dr. Adel Al-Wuqayan for his efforts in developing specialized developmental services, implementing financial and administrative reforms, and steering the Institute towards achieving its objectives. He noted that the ninth strategy's final year successfully integrated training, consultancy, research, developmental meetings, and partnerships, reinforcing the Institute's role in Arab planning and development. The minister expressed hope that the meeting would lay the groundwork for the launch of the tenth strategy (2025-2030), which aims to address evolving planning and development needs in a rapidly changing world. Achievements in the final year of the ninth strategy included over 100 training activities, both in-person and virtual, involving more than 3,000 participants from various Arab countries. Programs addressed advanced topics such as digital transformation, green economy, artificial intelligence, sustainability, cybersecurity, and specialized areas for leadership and small and medium enterprises. In the realm of research and consultancy, the Institute completed six advisory studies and launched 13 new projects focusing on strategic planning, macroeconomics, developmental evaluation, institutional development, and economic modeling. Additionally, it produced over 42 research papers and key publications, including the Journal of Development and Economic Policies and developmental guides in collaboration with A rab institutions. The Institute also organized 12 regional and international events, participated in 44 others, signed seven memoranda of understanding, and joined regional financial and developmental networks, showcasing its leadership in Arab development. Dr. Al-Mukhaizeem explained that the tenth strategy would emphasize proactivity, innovation, institutional and digital modernization, specialized planning programs, economic modeling, AI, green transformation, and maximizing knowledge impact for decision-makers and researchers. He extended his gratitude to the Institute's management and staff for their dedication in implementing past achievements and organizing the first Board meeting of 2025-2026. Founded in 1980, the Arab Planning Institute is an independent, non-profit regional organization based in Kuwait, committed to supporting Arab countries' economic and social development through capacity building, research, consultancy, meetings, publishing, entrepreneurship, and information services.
