KUNA chief fetes winners of Sheikh Salem al-Ali informatics award

In a big ceremony, Board Chairman and Director General of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah has honored 30 winners of Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award's Kuwait Shift 4 competition. "The Award is a chance to discover and invest in youth talents," Sheikh Mubarak said at the ceremony held late Monday and attended by several prominent media, press and public figures as well as Arab diplomats. Sheikh Mubarak congratulated the winners and wished them more successes in their life. He underlined that organizing such a kind of competitions will help raise Arab awareness about information technology, informatics and cyber security. "It will also promote the optimal use of social networks and smartphones," he said. He noted that the Kuwait Shift 4 competition has recently attracted more participants from all over the world, especially after launching its English version. "Since its inception, Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award has made quantum leaps and seen great successes which raised Kuwait's flag high in informatics circles across the globe,"he said. "KUNA will always provide support for the competition," Sheikh Mubarak promised. He praised the efforts of Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Award Sheikha Aida Salem Al-Ali who played a great role in organizing and developing the Award. Sheikha Aida, on her part, expressed gratitude for Sheikh Mubarak and KUNA's unlimited support to the Award. She also thanked volunteers and the Kuwait Shift team for their huge efforts. The Kuwait Shift 4 competition has moved into the international scene and achieved great success in a matter of four years, she noted. The Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award, Kuwait Shift one of its contests, was first launched in 2001 under the title (Sheikh Salem Al-Ali internet competition) to harness talents of youth in the internet field. The Award includes competitions for the best websites, smart applications, blogging, and the Kuwait Shift.