TEF Kuwait Hosts 16th TICE & 9th EEA: Engineering Sustainability and Innovation for a Greener Future
The Tamilnadu Engineers Forum (TEF), Kuwait, hosted a landmark event - the 16th Technological Innovations Conference and Exposition (TICE) and the 9th Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) on 9th October 2025 - at Hotel Crowne Plaza. With over 1,000 attendees, the event brought together thought leaders, industry experts, engineers, and innovators. Themed "The Rise of Green Engineering: Advancing Sustainability Through Technology," this year’s conference underscored the vital role of sustainable innovation in shaping the future of engineering.
This year also marked TEF’s 26th anniversary, celebrating over two decades of contribution to professional development, technical knowledge sharing, and the empowerment of Indian engineers in Kuwait.
Inaugural Ceremony Graced by Industry Titans
The event opened with the arrival of esteemed guests, followed by a ceremonial cake cutting and ribbon cutting. Dignitaries were then taken on an exhibition tour showcasing cutting-edge engineering innovations. The event officially opened with the Kuwait and Indian national anthems, followed by a safety moment.
TEF’s General Secretary, Eng. Balasubramanian, delivered the Welcome Address. In his speech, he extended heartfelt thanks to all sponsors, exhibitors, delegates, and participants for their unwavering support and enthusiasm.
In his presidential address, the TEF President Eng. Raja reflected on the organization’s journey, celebrating 26 years of service to the engineering community in Kuwait. He emphasized that it is the collective effort of the engineering community and the generous contributions of stakeholders that make TEF’s events a consistent success year after year. A commemorative video capturing TEF’s evolution and contributions was played, setting the tone for the day’s celebrations.
The audience then heard impactful speeches from distinguished Chief Guests: Mr. Hamza Abdullah Bakhash, Chairman, Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and Mr. Hamad Rashid Al-Zuwayer, Deputy CEO (North & West Kuwait), Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).
Chief Guest Mr. Hamza Abdullah Bakhash emphasized the vital importance of green energy and sustainability in Kuwait's long-term national development. He praised the role of Indian engineers in Kuwait’s infrastructure and industrial growth, acknowledging their contributions to the country’s nation-building efforts.
Special Guest Mr. Hamad Rashid Al-Zuwayer highlighted KOC’s remarkable achievement in environmental performance - reducing gas flaring from 16% to just 0.5% as part of their Zero Flaring Policy. He reiterated KOC's commitment to sustainability and applauded engineers for driving this transformation.
Keynote & Special Addresses: A Global Call to Sustainability
In his keynote address, Dr. Fahad Al-Ghanem, Manager, Operations Support Group (Gas), KOC spoke about the growing significance of green energy in global and regional energy strategies. He stressed the urgent need for sustainable engineering practices, particularly in the oil and gas sector, to ensure a greener, more resilient future.
Dr. Igazeuma Okoroba, Head of Sustainability, Dangote Cement, Nigeria, delivered a special address on the global rise of green engineering. She emphasized how advanced sustainability technologies are transforming industries and urged the engineering community to lead with innovation, inclusion, and responsibility.
Representing the Embassy of India, Kuwait, Dr. Harit Ketan Shelat, Second Secretary appreciated TEF’s longstanding role in uniting and uplifting the Indian engineering community and encouraged further India-Kuwait cooperation in technology and sustainability.
Honoring Engineering Excellence
TEF’s 9th Engineering Excellence Awards celebrated the exceptional achievements under various categories on the Project Awards recognized innovative engineering solutions and the Individual Awards honored technical leadership and contributions. The awards were presented in the presence of the dignitaries and received with great enthusiasm and appreciation.
Following the awards ceremony, the focus shifted to knowledge dissemination through technical paper presentations. The sessions were split between two parallel tracks in Al Baraka Ballroom and Al Jawara Ballroom, with over 25 technical papers presented across three sessions.
Topics covered a wide range of emerging technologies and practical innovations, with participation from over 30 speakers. These sessions facilitated dialogue between professionals, researchers, and industry experts.
This year’s TICE-EEA event witnessed over 1000 attendees, making it one of the largest and most influential engineering gatherings in the region. Grand Scale of Participation & Community Engagement with 70+ exhibitors, 30+ speakers, 26 years of legacy and 25+ technical presentations conducted. Attendees included professionals from oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, academia, and government sectors, reaffirming TEF’s importance as a cross-industry platform. TEF’s commitment to fostering professional excellence and community engagement was widely appreciated by guests, delegates, participants and patrons alike.
The day concluded with a raffle draw and prize distribution, followed by a vote of thanks and lunch at 3:00 PM. The organizing committee extended their heartfelt gratitude to all dignitaries, speakers, sponsors, and delegates for making the event a grand success.
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