By Lobna Maarefi and Majda Al-Awadhi KUWAIT, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's new cabinet on wednesday was sworn in by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who approved yesterday its lineup in the Amiri Decree No. 296 for 2012.
Following are the profiles of the cabinet members; HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, born in 1942, held several senior posts and portfolios including supervisor of the administrative affairs of the Amiri Diwan, director of the administrative affairs of the Amir Diwan, and assistant undersecretary of the Amir Diwan for the administrative and financial affairs.
HH Sheikh Jaber also served as governor of Hawalli and governor of Al-Ahmadi before holding the portfolios of the Social Affairs and Labor, and Information; he was appointed advisor to HH the Amir's office.
On February 14, 2001, he was named deputy prime minister and defense minister and was ushered back to the same portfolio on July 14, 2003.
In February, 2006, he was named first deputy prime minister, minister of defense and minister of interior and held the same posts in the cabinet reshuffles of July, 2006 and March, 2007.
On October, 2007, he was named first deputy prime minister and minister of defense and held the same posts in the cabinet reshuffles of May, 2008, January, 2009, and November, 2011, before being appointed Prime minister in February, 2012.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, born in 1950, graduated from the British Royal Military College in 1967.
He served as chief of staff of the interior minister's office in 1978, governor of Al-Farwaniya in 1988, minister of interior in 1991-1992, and minister of defense in 1994-1996, before being named deputy prime minister and minister of interior in May, 2011.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah served as commander of the Amiri Guards, chief of the Military College, commander of the Ground Force, chief of general staff before being named deputy prime minister and defense minister in February, 2012.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, born in 1953, got a BA in political science from Kuwait University in 1977 and joined the diplomatic corps in the following year.
He served at Kuwait's diplomatic mission to the United Nations between 1983 and 1989, and served as director of the Arab Homeland Dept. of the Foreign Ministry in 1989-1992, chief of staff of the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary's office in 1992-1995, ambassador to Saudi Arabia and delegate to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1995-1998, chief of the National Guards in 1998.
He was named minister of social affairs and labor in July, 2006, and March, 2007, and minister of information in May, 2008, and January, 2009, before being named minister of foreign affairs in 2011, and deputy prime minister, foreign minister, and minister of state for cabinet affairs in February, 2012.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mustafa Jassem Al-Shimali, born in 1943, got a BA from the Faculty of Commerce, Ein Shams University, Egypt, before joining work at the Ministry of Finance in 1968.
He served as director of the economic cooperation dept. of the Ministry of Finance in 1975-1982, director of the ministry's general diwan in 1985-1986, the ministry's undersecretary for economic affairs in 1986-2006, and in the ministry's undersecretary in 2006-2007.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Khalid Al-Saleh, born in 1972, got a BA in business administration from the US Portland State University (PSU) in 1997 and served as board member of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in 2006-2010.
He also served as board chairman and managing director of Kuwait Invest Holding Company (KSCC) in 2006 before being named minister of commerce and industry in February, 2012.
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thikra Ayed Al-Rashidi, born in 1970, is a renowned lawyer at the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court; she is an accredited arbiter at the arbitration center of Kuwait Lawyers Association.
Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Dr. Rola Dashti, born in 1964, holds a doctorate from the US Johns Hopkins University.
She served as director of the economic division of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and chairperson of Kuwait Economic Society (KES) and is laureate of King Hussein Award for Human Development for 2005.
Dashti was named Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs for the first time in last July.
Minister of Communication and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Salem Mutheeb Al-Utheina got a BA in electronics from Boston University and served as director of Kuwait communication center of the ministry of communication.
He first held his current portfolio in February, 2012, before being named minister of communication and acting minister of social affairs and labor in last July.
Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah got a BA in political science from Kuwait University before joining HH the Crown Prince's office.
He served as representative of HH the Crown Prince's office at the National Assembly in 1988, and assistant undersecretary of the National Guards from 1993 until 2002 when he was named undersecretary of the National Guards; he also served as advisor to HH Chief of the National Guards between 2002 and 2009.
Sheikh Salman was elected first deputy chairman of the Arab Shooting Confederation (ASC) in 1987, chairman of the GCC shooting committee in 1995, chairman of the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) in 2004 and member of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) in 2006.
Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Shareeda Abdullah Al-Muosherji, born in 1952, got a BA in commerce from Kuwait University in 1974, and master degree in business administration from the University of Hartford, USA, in 1980.
He served as secretary of the Municipal Council in 1980-1983, assistant secretary-general of the National Assembly for administrative, financial and technical affairs in 1983-1993, and secretary-general of the National Assembly from 1993 until 2007 when he was named minister of communications and minister of state for National Assembly affairs.
Minister of Electricity and Water and Minister of Public Works Abdulaziz Abdullatif Al-Ibrahim, born in 1952, got a BA in electrical engineering in 1975 and a master degree in 1978 before joining work at the Ministry of Electricity and Water in 1979.
He served as assistant undersecretary of the ministry until July, 2012 when he was named minister of electricity and water and minister of state for municipal affairs.
Minister of Health Dr. Mohammad Barrak Al-Haifi is a renowned consultant of endoscopic surgery, digestive system and tumors, and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, born in 1971, got a BA in political science from the British Tottenham University and a master degree from the University of London.
He served as chairman of the authority for citizen service and government performance assessment in 2002 before being named minister of information in February, 2012.
Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf got a master degree in accounting from the United States in 1997 and doctorate from the United Kingdom in 2002 after graduating from Kuwait University in 1994.
Dr. Al-Hajraf served as vice chancellor of the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), member of Kuwait's Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) in 2010, financial advisor to Kuwait Stock Exchange and administrative advisor to the UN Development Program.
He first held the current portfolio in February, 2012, before being ushered back to it, besides serving as acting minister of finance, in the cabinet reshuffle of last July.
Minister of Oil Hani Abdulaziz Hussein, got a BA in chemical engineering from the United States before serving as CEO and deputy board chairman of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) in 2004-2007.
He also served as board chairman and managing director of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) in 1998-2004, and board chairman and managing director of the Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) in 1990-1995. (end) lm.maa.abd.gb KUNA 122325 Dec 12NNNN