The Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait has taken over the ISSA Liaison Office for Arab countries. The transfer was celebrated in an online event, which also gave the opportunity to thank the Social Security Corporation of Jordan for hosting the office for many years.
The ISSA liaison offices play a crucial role in facilitating knowledge sharing, networking, and technical cooperation between ISSA member institutions within a region, and sometimes for a language community. The ISSA Liaison Office for Arab Countries currently covers 15 ISSA member institutions in 11 countries from the Middle East.
A virtual opening ceremony and roundtable was organized on 3 February 2022 to mark the transfer of the liaison office from Amman to Kuwait City. ISSA Secretary General Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano used the opportunity to thank the Social Security Corporation of Jordan for its support in the region, and the Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait for taking over the role. “We look forward to further strengthening the ISSA’s support to its members in Arab countries”, said Mr Caetano.
The opening ceremony included Khalifa Bin Saïd El-Ibri, Deputy Secretary for Economic and Development Affairs, representing Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdulwahab M. Al-Rushaid, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investments, Kuwait, and Meshal Abdulaziz Al-Othman, Director General of The Public Institution for Social Security, Kuwait.
As a symbol of smooth transition Mr Al-Othman was joined by Dr Hazim Tayseer Saleh Rahahleh, Director General of the Social Security Corporation of Jordan in the roundtable on Social security in the MENA region: Challenges and opportunities that followed the opening ceremony. They were also joined by Muhammad bin Talal Al-Nahas, Governor of the General Organization for Social Insurance, Saudi Arabia, and Mohammed Karaki, Director general of the National Social security Fund, Lebanon.
Members of the Steering Committee of the Liaison Office for Arab Countries also held a meeting to discuss upcoming plans and activities.
The new location for the ISSA liaison office will ensure the Arab Countries continue to be well served by the ISSA and ensure strong cooperation between ISSA member institutions within the region.
Video: Public Institution for Social Security, Kuwait