KUWAIT: The ministry of commerce and industry announced that the trial of the new one-window transaction Kuwait Business Center (KBC) project concluded in Ishbiliya and that it will be officially launched today. The ministry explained that the new service center gathers several government bodies and the ministry of commerce and industry in one place to make it easier for the public to avoid bureaucracy, red tape and delays. “The new service will reduce the time needed to issue a license from 45 days to only four,” the ministry statement explained.

AOU welcomes 8000 students

Marking the beginning of the new academic year, the Arab Open University (AOU) yesterday received around 8,000 students at its three faculties - English Literature, Business Administration and Computer & IT Technology. AOU Kuwait branch director Prof Nayef Ebjad Al-Mutairi congratulated students and teaching staff on the new year.

Schools prepared

Director of Al-Rabya intermediate school for girls Nadiya Al-Khalifa said that her school is fully prepared for the new school year and that teachers have been divided into special teams to receive the girls on the first day.

GCC health ministers' council

MoH Undersecretary Dr Khaled Al-Sahlawi and assistant undersecretary for legal affairs Dr Mahmoud Al-Abdul Hadi took part in the 80th meeting of the GCC health ministers' council in Riyadh. Speaking to reporters, Sahlawi said that the meeting included many topics on its agenda such as unified GCC purchase contracts, a study on purchasing medical equipment, chronic and infectious diseases and geriatric diseases. Sahlawi added that a GCC meeting would be held in Kuwait in October to discuss fighting infectious and geriatric diseases.

Consultancy services

The housing authority signed a contract with an international company to provide consultancy services at five sites in Jaber Al-Ahmed and Sabah Al-Ahmed cities. Engineer Bader Al-Weqayyan stressed that the new contract was part of the authority's plans to turn non-profit lands into profit-making investments through PPP strategies and improving operational performance.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi