Under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad AlJaber AlSabah and the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Education and Higher Education Prof. Hamed AlAzmi, representing His Highness. The Department of Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering and Petroleum- Kuwait University, and the Kuwait Society of Engineers opened the first conference of "Challenges in Developing Sustainable Infrastructure 2019". It was held on April 23-25, 2019, at the JW Marriot Hotel - Al Jahra Hall.
In the presence of Her Excellency the Minister of Public Works Dr. Jenan Bushehri, the President of Kuwait University Prof. Hussein AlAnsari and the Secretary General of the University Dr. Muthanna AlRifae, the Chairman of Kuwait Society of Engineers, Eng. Faisal AlDuwaih AlAttal, and a number of scientists specializing in infrastructure development and specialists in transport engineering, traffic, sustainable roads and transportation strategies in smart cities.
On this occasion, the representative of the Amir, Prof. Hamed Al-Azmi expressed his pleasure to represent His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The challenges of sustainable infrastructure organized by the Department of Civil Engineering at Kuwait University and the Kuwait Society of Engineers and in cooperation with international universities with its distinguished name and specialized bodies in the field of infrastructure.
Prof. AlAzmi mentioned that his Highness the Amir was honored by the World Bank to celebrate His Highness's role in sustainable economic development and regional and international peace. This honor pays us all to work and accept the challenge in the field of infrastructure and sustainability, and that His Highness's patronage for this conference reflects his keenness and supports the directives of the good government in achieving the new Kuwait Plan 2020-2035. Kuwait is approaching a large-scale infrastructure projects in the coming period and its best readiness lies in quality education. This is what we want from the outputs of the Civil Engineering Department in particular and Kuwait University in general.
He pointed out that this patronage, which emphasizes and solidifies the concepts of the State of Kuwait in its sponsorship of science and scientists and reflects its ongoing efforts in developing and upgrading its infrastructure to achieve the elements of sustainability that we hope this conference will address through the high scientific participation that has been brought from prestigious institutions and institutions that have long experience in the fields of infrastructure, study and upgrading.
In his turn, the head of the Kuwaiti Engineering Society Engineer Faisal AlDuweeh AlAttal said that the issues of infrastructure are the most important issues now. He commended the high care which represents the interest and the leadership's keenness to support the human potential in the field of engineering with the material and knowledge capabilities to achieve the development plan 2035.
He said that Kuwait is on the verge of large projects, such as the University of Shadadia and the new residential cities and other projects within the development plan 2035. AlAttal pointed out that Kuwait needs young cadres of high efficiency with the potential to undertake the construction and maintenance of future projects, pointing out that this is not strange to the government and the people of Kuwait, who were over to give all their energy and science to their country Kuwait.
For his part, the head of the Civil Engineering Department at the College of Engineering and Petroleum and the Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Conference, Dr. Fahd AlRukaibi, welcomed the guests of the conference under the title "The First Challenges in Developing Sustainable Infrastructure 2019", organized by the Civil Engineering Department at Kuwait University.
He pointed out that the Department of Civil Engineering is one of the largest and most important scientific sections not only in the College of Engineering and Petroleum, but at Kuwait University and one of the tributaries of science, which is close to a 1000 students, where the department is full of a group of faculty members up to 60 faculty members in various disciplines in civil engineering of roads, buildings, soil, coastal waters and project management and others.
He pointed out that this conference is one of the most important contributions of the Department of Civil Engineering to promote scientific research and exchange of experiences between Kuwait University and the most important international universities with our distinguished scientists such as Rutgers University, University of Texas Austin, British Columbia University, Illinois University in Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Adding the participation of approximately 25 working papers were accepted out of 40 scientific papers and summary submitted and five specialized training workshops free of charge accompanying the conference and 8 seminars in the presence of specialists. Several local, Gulf and other countries participated in papers and workshops and discussed infrastructure projects such as Terminal 2, Sheikh Jaber Bridge, railway and metro projects, Mubarak AlKabeer Port on Boubyan Island, Sheqaya Renewable Energy Project and AlMutlaa residential project.
Dr. Fahd AlRukaibi recalled the role of the Dean of the College of Engineering and Petroleum, the late Dr. Abdullah AlKhulaifi, and his distinctive marks in the College. He then thanked all the working committees and everyone who had a role in holding this international scientific event, which comes under the patronage of the Amir, wishing that the outcome of this conference and its results will serve the educational, research and engineering process in our beloved country Kuwait.