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Zain, the leading digital service provider in Kuwait, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kuwait-based platform PASS. As part of this joint collaboration, Zain will offer a wide range of smart cities solutions that meet the Ministry of Interior’s specifications, and the solutions will be integrated with the ministry’s backend systems. The partnership will first commence at Shamiya and Shuwaikh Co-op with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of traffic safety in the country.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at Shamiya and Shuwaikh Co-op’s headquarters with the presence of Zain Kuwait’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer Hamad Al Marzouq, Chairman of Shamiya and Shuwaikh Co-op Abdullah Al Othman Al Rashed, and PASS CEO Dhari Al Zayed, along with officials from the three partners.
Commenting on the partnership, Zain Kuwait’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer Hamad Al Marzouq said: “We are thrilled today to announce a new joint collaboration between Zain, Kuwait-based platform PASS, and Shamiya and Shuwaikh Co-op. This is yet another step towards our continuous efforts to empower digital transformation in the country under the umbrella of the New Kuwait 2035 vision”.
Al Marzouq explained: “At Zain, we are well aware of the vital role played by Small and Medium Enterprises in achieving economic and social development in Kuwait. SMEs represent a big part of the country’s production channels, and they play an essential role in the growth of our nation’s economy. That is why today we are proud to partner with PASS, a Kuwaiti tech startup success story and the first of its kind system to identify vehicles in the Middle East. This will enable us to implement the concept of smart cities with utmost efficiency”.
Al Marzouq added: “Without a doubt, today’s announcement reflects the active collaboration between Kuwait’s private sector companies and SMEs to achieve the nation’s developmental goals. Through this partnership, we affirm our pivotal role as a leading national company in the Kuwaiti private sector by making our tech capabilities available to offer the latest and best world-class services and solutions. We are keen on meeting the digital needs and aspirations of the nation’s various entities and empowering them towards digital transformation, especially during such unprecedented times”.
Al Marzouq further explained: “As part of this agreement, Zain will offer a wide range of smart cities services that will be first implemented at Shamiya and Shuwaikh areas. The services feature traffic CCTV solutions offered by PASS. These advanced solutions are able to identify vehicles based on their license plate data, brand, type, and color to automatically and instantly recognize various traffic offences such as red line crossing, solid line crossing, forbidden lane usage, prohibited turns, and more in an effort to enhance traffic safety and minimize fatal accidents”.
Al Marzouq continued: “The solutions offered by Zain in collaboration with PASS will also be able to identify speeding vehicles from a distance of 1 KM, recognize vehicles wanted for theft and other crimes, as well as offer a wide range of mobile tools that allow the authorities to view and analyze data from anywhere and at any time. This will both achieve faster response times and enhance the efficiency of safety systems. The solutions meet the requirements and specifications of MOI, and Zain will integrate them with the ministry’s backend systems”.
Al Marzouq concluded: “Our collaboration with this unique Kuwait-based platform comes as part of our strategy that centers around enriching our digital partnerships ecosystem. We also aim to expand the portfolio of services and solutions we offer to our business customers from both the public and private sectors, and we are proud to collaborate with PASS as part of our belief in the capabilities of Kuwaiti entrepreneurs in all areas, and especially the field of tech. I would like to also thank our colleagues at the Board of Directors of Shamiya and Shuwaikh Co-op for their active collaboration with us to make this partnership a success”.
Chairman of Shamiya and Shuwaikh Co-op Abdullah Al Othman Al Rashed commented: “We launched this initiative to secure the safety of residential areas, and it is considered the first of its kind in Kuwait and across the co-ops sector in the country. The initiative, which features installing security solutions at the entrances and exits around the co-op’s area, received praised from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Social Affairs, and will contribute to keeping the community safe and protecting properties”.
Al Othman Al Rashed further explained: “The project costs nearly KWD 100,000, and we have coordinated with a number of companies to seek out implementing it and ultimately contributing to the area’s safety in collaboration with MOI. We have reached an agreement with Zain, which expressed its interest and readiness to adopt and support the project, given the fact that it represents the Kuwaiti private sector, which is a strategic partner of the nation’s developmental goals”.
Al Othman Al Rashed concluded: “Our gratitude goes to MOI, which coordinated with the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies to call on implementing this initiative across co-ops in Kuwait in an effort to ensure the safety and security of all areas and protect public and private properties”.
Dhari Al Zayed, CEO of PASS, commented: “PASS is thrilled to collaborate with Zain, the leading telecommunications operator in the Arab region. PASS has joined forces with this telecom giant to provide a wide range of traffic safety and smart city solutions. We foresee beyond the immediate short-term sales growth and look at the long-term investment in relationships that mature into even bigger opportunities. PASS offers a wide range of business models to accommodate the various business requirements. Being the proud sole supplier of ARH/SSK cameras that specialize in reading and recognizing license plates, the cameras will read license plate and vehicle specifications. PASS is confident about all the changes that they can collectively bring with Zain which will contribute to the Kuwait National Development Plan of New Kuwait 2035”.
Zain continuously offers the latest and most advanced services and solutions to showcase its capabilities as an active partner in empowering a smart life, a safe community, and an efficient business sector. The company considers itself a main partner in the achievement of the goals of the Kuwait National Development Plan (New Kuwait 2035), which is based on five expected outcomes and seven key pillars.