KUWAIT CITY, Nov 4: The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Pakistan’s Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance news exchange and media training, reflecting advances in communications and information technology.

The agreement was formalized during a virtual ceremony hosted at KUNA headquarters by Acting Director General Mohammad Al-Manaei and APP Managing Director Mohammad Asim Khichi, in the presence of Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Zafar Iqbal.

APP Managing Director Mohammad Asim Khichi speaking via video conference during the signing of the media cooperation agreement with KUNA.

Al-Manaei described the pact as a milestone in strengthening media relations, supporting credible and professional journalism, and opening avenues for broader training and expertise sharing. “Media partnerships serve as a bridge for communication and knowledge exchange,” he said, emphasizing that the agreement aims to promote purposeful media messages based on professionalism and reliability.

Khichi said the MoU marks a new phase of joint work, covering staff development, news and report exchange, sharing of information and photographs, and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in the media sector. “This agreement will help develop human resources and enhance collaboration between the two agencies for mutual benefit,” he added.

Under the terms of the MoU, both agencies will provide each other’s content through available technical means, retain the essence of received items, and credit the source of all stories, with “APP” for stories used by KUNA and “KUNA” for stories used by APP. Both parties may request additional information, facilitate correspondent work, cooperate on event coverage and official visits, and coordinate positions during joint meetings. They will also explore exchanges of bulletins, books, archives, and expertise.

For staff training and exchanges, the host country will cover accommodation and local expenses, while the sending party will bear travel costs.

The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Director General for the Editorial Sector at KUNA, Esam Al-Ghanim; Acting Editor-in-Chief Mohammad Al-Bahar; Director of the Director General’s Office, Lamia Al-Farsi; and Director of the Coordination and Follow-up Office, Shorouq Sadeqi.

The MoU represents a strategic step in deepening cooperation between KUNA and APP in media content creation and information technology, strengthening friendly ties between Kuwait and Pakistan.