KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Youssef Al-Ali and Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director General of KDIPA attend the event. —KUNA KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Youssef Al-Ali and Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director General of KDIPA attend the event. —KUNA

KUWAIT: General Electric (GE); the American multinational conglomerate corporation, announced opening a technology center to drive localized research, training, engineering support in the power sector in Kuwait.

Three core components serving the Middle East and Africa: A training center to offer hands-on training; tooling center to offer repair and maintenance services, and engineering center for cutting-edge research and development including Hot and Harsh technology, said a statement by the Company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Center to drive localized innovation and R and D focused on GE's digital industrial solutions as part of MoU signed with Kuwait University, said the statement, adding that the center will support more than 900 trainees each year, including students and technical professionals underlining company's long-term commitment to Kuwait and the country's development vision.

GE marked a new milestone in its operational presence in Kuwait with the opening of the GE Kuwait Technology Center (GEKTC), a flagship facility that will foster localized research, provide hands-on training and build an innovation ecosystem specifically for the power sector, it noted.

Approved by the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) for a Foreign Investment License last year, the 6,000 sq meter GEKTC, based at Agility in Sulaibiya, is the first facility of its kind outside of the United States by GE, underlining the company's long-term commitment to Kuwait, its people and the wider region. A quantum leap, said Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Youssef Al-Ali, describing the opening of the office, and goes in line with the state's 2035 vision.

Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director General of KDIPA), said: "The Kuwait GE Technology Center is a strong investment by one of the world's leading companies highlighting the strong competitiveness of the Kuwaiti economy. Apart from serving as a key pillar in supporting the country's energy sector, the Center is also placing emphasis on localized innovation and Kuwaiti talent development. This complements the goals of KDIPA in promoting inward investments to ensure transfer of technology and with a strong focus on talent and skill development of Kuwaitis, as well as meeting the country's national vision and development priorities."

Since the early 1970s, GE has been a strong partner to Kuwait's public and private sectors, supporting the country's infrastructure needs across the aviation, power, water, oil and gas industries. With more than 200 employees based in country. - KUNA