Under the slogan “Towards Implementation of the National Traffic and Transport Strategy for Kuwait in line with Resolutions of the Ministers Council and UN”, Al-Hamoud will Inaugurate the 4^thInternational Workshop of the UNDP and General Directorate of Traffic

Under the auspices of H.H Sheik Ahmed Al-Hamoud Al Sabah the 1^st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior the 4^thinternational training workshop for cadres of traffic and transport stakeholders will be inaugurated on 18 November  2012, in conjunction with the World Day of Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims. The workshop is part of the technical cooperation program of the Government of the State of Kuwait, UNDP and Ministry of Interior.

H.H the State Minister for Planning and Development will also address the workshop as well as President of the International Road Union, Kuwait, Dean of the Medical College, and Representatives of the UNDP, Ministry of Public Works, and Kuwait Society of Engineers.

Kuwait attaches particular importance to overcoming traffic problems and reducing the socio-economic costs of road accidents. The major cause of traffic problems is the inability of the road networks to accommodate the high demand for movement of people and goods. And traffic problems consist of multiple factors and fall under the responsibility of various parties of various interests.

Kuwait is keen to implement all recommendations of the National Traffic and Transport Sector  Strategy 2010-2020, which was endorsed by the Council of Ministers, stakeholders and UNDP and included enhancement of transport sector management – road networks and transport – road safety – traffic police – legislation – community awareness – emergency services, as well as  training of  500 engineers and 3000 police officers by 2015. Note that these recommendations also came with the efficient action plan identical to the Resolutions of the General Assembly of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which asked all Member States to take urgent action to reduce the severity, frequency and cost to the community of road casualties.

The workshop will be attended by Major General Dr. Mustafa Al-Zuabi, Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs and Director General of the General Directorate of Traffic, Ms Sahar Al-Shawa and UNDP cadres, and representatives of relevant ministries and organizations in Kuwait.

The speakers include Prof Dr Kim Jraiw, UNDP Technical Director of the National Traffic and Transport Strategy 2010-2020 for Kuwait, as well as international experts and traffic police officers from Developed Countries selected on the basis of their efficiency and outstanding experience to address specific topics of interest to the State of Kuwait, to help in tackling the problems.

Knowing that the previous international workshops, which were supported by the UNDP
and Ministry of Interior, have recommended the following:

• Formation of a Ministerial Committee to monitor implementation of the projects of the National Traffic and Transport Strategy, establishment of the National Transport  Authority, and restructure of the General Directorate of Traffic.

• Support implementation of the National Traffic Management Improvement Project by the UNDP and SCPD.

• Accelerate commencement of the National Traffic Strategy Project of the Ministry of Interior 2010-2014 in collaboration with the UNDP.

• Speed transport sector restructuring.

• Speed implementation of the National Traffic and Transport Strategy 2010-2020 by the relevant stakeholders.

Kuwait celebrates the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims since 2008, and also celebrates the UN Decade of Actions 2011-2020 for Road Safety, Gulf Traffic Week in March of every year, Arab Road Safety Week in April every year, and 3-5 training workshop yearly to meet the National Strategy objectives. The workshop languages are English and Arabic with simultaneous translation.

The workshop will be held from 18 to 21 November 2012 at the Holiday Inn – Downtown – Dasman – Kuwait City – Kuwait

Future workshops and activities include international training workshops for cadres of traffic and transport and education agencies in March and November 2013, Gulf Traffic Week in March 2013, 2^nd Anniversary of Road Accident Victims in May 2013, local cadres training in May, June and August 2013, and World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in November 2013.

Prof Dr Kim Jraiw

Technical Director (UNDP-Government Program)

National Traffic and Transport Strategy for Kuwait

(+965) 9744 7604

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