Under the patronage of Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment Affairs Saad Al-Barrak, along with several senior officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Fourth Gulf Conference and Exhibition on Cybersecurity Challenges was inaugurated in Kuwait on Monday.

The event took place in collaboration with Kuwait’s Central Agency for Information Technology, affiliated to the Cabinet, and in participation with the Union of Kuwaiti Banks, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait Army and other entities, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

The conference was attended by the most prominent heads and cybersecurity officials and other key specialized experts from various government and private sectors, with the aim of exchanging their information and opinions on the latest innovations and developments in the fields of cybersecurity and data protection.

Major General (Rtd) Mohammad Boarki (photo), Chief of the National Cybersecurity Center of Kuwait, said: “Cybersecurity in our current era is considered one of the most important elements of national security in advanced and developing countries, especially after most productive and service sectors have transformed into digital ones.”

“The concept of cybersecurity has become a fundamental requirement in the lives of peoples who use technology as a means to secure vital information infrastructure and technological systems managed by vital state facilities. Any threat to these facilities is a threat to national security. Therefore, we must protect computer networks and information systems,” he added.

“Thus, we are working to make Kuwait more secure in terms of cybersecurity, and it is necessary for all entities in Kuwait to participate in achieving greater insight, success and aspirations,” Major General Boarki stressed.

Engineer Omar Al-Omar delivered his opening speech on behalf of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority.

“Our goal is to unify efforts for cybersecurity in Kuwait and Gulf Cooperation Council countries. We are witnessing cyberattacks that threaten national security, not only individuals and institutions,” he said.

“Therefore, it is necessary to harness all technological resources and prepare human resources to minimize cyberattacks that threaten the state’s economy and security. As a result of technological advances, communication and information technology and the diversity of multiple programs, cyber infiltrations and electronic attacks have significantly increased, seeking to destroy the information environment, indicating the important role of cyber security and its impact on business and daily life,” Al-Omar added.