Kuwaiti minister emphasizes KUNA's media, development role

Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah on Monday emphasized KUNA constructive role in highlighting the state plans and strategies for development.
KUNA plays a prominent role on the local, regional and international levels through persistent efforts by the agency's officials, and staff, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud said. "It is a well-established agency working hard on developing itself to deliver its media message and support the state." "Together with the agency's board of directors and staff, we are all working on promoting its technical and media potential so that it will carry on as the accurate and credible source of news in our dear Kuwait," the Minister said.
Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud noted that he had a firsthand experience of how work proceeds in the editorial sector, the core of KUNA work, and saw for himself the enormous efforts by the staff in all sector, together with the overseas offices and reporters.
The Minister was also briefed on KUNA ongoing efforts to upgrade work at the agency, referring to the formation of a new panel on new and interactive media.
During his visit to KUNA, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud listened to views of the agency's staff for developing it. He accented in this respect the significant efforts by KUNA Board Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah, his two deputies and members of the board.
Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud urged state officials to help KUNA play due national role of shedding lights on the government's tremendous efforts to develop the society and achieve aspired goals.
For his part, KUNA's Acting Director-General Abdulhamid Malak welcomed Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud on behalf of the agency's staff.
"The Minister has offered a host of directives which we consider a roadmap for developing KUNA and serving the copious march of the Kuwait media," Malak said.
He noted that the visit would encourage the staff, especially in the editorial sector, the backbone of KUNA work.
Malak also expressed appreciation of the Minister's support of the agency's development.
It will serve as an incentive for all KUNA staff to work harder so that the agency can always remain a reliable source of information and news, he said.
KUNA Deputy Director General for Editorial Sector Saad Al-Ali expressed gratitude to Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud on behalf of the editorial staff in particular, for his landmark visit.
The visit gives impetus to all KUNA staff, especially the editorial sector and heads, to work harder on developing their agency, Al-Ali said. It is also a message of support to KUNA, which is working hard to deliver an objective account of events.
Al-Ali noted that KUNA enjoys a wide network of correspondents worldwide, closely following up the world's news, focusing on issues relevant to Kuwait.
In addition to the newswire and the website, KUNA offers SMSs, audio and other personalized and specialized services. It also has official pages on the social networking sites to provide up-to-minute news and information about the government's projects, he said.
Al-Ali underlined the vast range of freedom offered to the Kuwaiti press, which prompts KUNA to exert more efforts to convey to the world "Kuwait's civilized image."