Kuwait City, 23 January, 2008:  KIPCO - the Kuwait Project Company - has won an award for its public awareness campaign on dyslexia at Kuwait's first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards.

The campaign - which featured TV and press advertising to highlight the problems faced by those people suffering from dyslexia - was the first of its kind in the Gulf region.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr. Abdullah Bishara, Vice Chairman of KIPCO said:

"I'm delighted that KIPCO has won this award because the awards themselves reflect the heightened awareness of Kuwait's private sector on its collective responsibility towards our community."

Mr. Bishara added:

"A strategic CSR programme is a long-standing element of KIPCO's business strategy. This was demonstrated more than 10 years ago by the establishment of our Masharea Al Khair charity - an organisation dedicated to managing and allocating funds for charitable projects. KIPCO's declaration that it will donate 1% of the company's annual profits to support its work is a clear sign of the commitment we have to our society."

KIPCO was presented with its award at a prestigious ceremony at the Sheikha Salwa ballroom at the Marina Hotel. KIPCO was selected from a number of local private sector companies that have engaged in strategic CSR initiatives, underlying a concerted effort by these organizations to support their local communities. The event attracted over 150 invited guests.

Receiving KIPCO's award, Abeer Al Omar, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications Department, said:

"Research shows that almost 10% of Kuwait society suffers from dyslexia - a condition that can be both traumatic and debilitating for people young and old. Our campaign aimed to show that with the right kind of help the symptoms of dyslexia can be alleviated and even cured allowing people who suffer from the condition to live a more normal and happy life. We are thrilled that our efforts to highlight this condition have been successful in raising public awareness and that our work has been recognized by this award."

"We are proud that our awareness campaign has achieved the results it has.  We have been encouraged by the positive reaction from the Ministry of Education which includes the organization of a specialized committee on dyslexia that will provide special care for dyslexic students in primary schools, helping to improve their quality of life."

-Ends-

About KIPCO
The KIPCO Group is one of the biggest diversified holding companies in the Middle East and North Africa, with assets worth more than US$ 21 billion under management or control. The Group has substantial ownership interests in a portfolio of 51 companies operating across 18 countries.  The company's main business sectors are financial services and media. Through the subsidiaries and affiliates of its core companies, KIPCO also has interests in Real Estate, Industry, Healthcare and the Management & Advisory sector.

For further information, please contact:
Dina Sabry
Media Relations Manager
Hill & Knowlton
Tel: (+965) 232 2976
Mobile: (+965) 944 5975
Email: dsabry@hillandknowlton.com.bh

© Press Release 2008