News Summary Report Sunday/ November 29, 2020
External Affairs
Joint Statement for fourth U.S.-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue
The joint statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the State of Kuwait following the conclusion of the fourth U.S.-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on November 24, 2020. U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo hosted Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al- Mohammed Al-Sabah for the concluding session of the Dialogue The United States and Kuwait reiterated our commitment to further increasing cooperation in all areas of practical benefit to our governments and our peoples. “Today, we set a roadmap for the advancement of our relations in the coming year. Bilateral working groups held over the past weeks will continue to work together to: better operationalize Kuwaiti and U.S. defense systems; modernize jointly-used military facilities; extend information sharing and cooperation to thwart acts of terrorism; strengthen our collaborative efforts to advance human rights; enhance cybersecurity; expand trade and investment; protect and enforce the intellectual property rights of Kuwaitis and Americans; broaden our educational and research linkages; cooperate to provide high quality, cost-effective healthcare; and facilitate travel between our countries. We look forward to making further progress in these areas when the Dialogue takes place next year in Kuwait. Al-Jarida
(https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-of-the-fourth-united-states-kuwait- strategic-dialogue/)
Gulf mediation initiative likely behind Kuwaiti FM’s brief visit to Cairo Several interpretations are fielded by analysts in Cairo to explain the purpose of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah’s recent short visit to Cairo. Some believe the visit is likely related to the recent fraying of bilateral relations over the situation of Egyptian workers in Kuwait. But many are instead convinced that the Kuwaiti official brought with him an initiative to calm things down between Qatar and the Arab quartet, which has been boycotting the small Gulf country since June 2017 over accusations it supports extremists and maintains close relations with Tehran. They see Kuwait now as tempted to renew its mediation in the continuing row, taking advantage of the political climate created by Joe Biden’s victory in US presidential election. Egyptian sources do not rule out the possibility that the Kuwaiti leadership could have presented the outline of a new initiative for reconciliation with Qatar, and that it might have sought to feel Egypt's pulse on this issue during its foreign minister’s visit to Cairo, which lasted only a few hours. These sources say that Cairo’s annoyance over some regional developments may push it to respond favourably to the prospect of reconciliation this time, especially if Kuwait presents a political
proposal that includes clear flexibility in Doha’s stance and meets a significant part of the boycotting quartet’s demands. A member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rakha Ahmad Hasan, said that Sheikh Ahmed’s visit goes beyond the traditional boundaries of the workers’crisis, and that it “may have aimed at consulting with the Egyptian side on a number of regional files, on top of which is Kuwait’s desire to resume its mediation between the boycotting countries and Qatar.” Hasan told The Arab Weekly, Hasan that Kuwait could be starting steps for a dialogue between the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to hear all opinions from the member states with the aim of reaching compromises to ease the current differences. Media sources said that US President Donald Trump wants to close this file, just like many other files, before leaving the White House, in order to deny his successor, Joe Bide, the political credit of resolving them. At present, both Egypt and Kuwait believe there is a need for more calm in light of volatile regional developments that risk ushering in surprises that the two countries may not be able to withstand. Egypt is currently awaiting the outcome of recent developments in relations between Saudi Arabia and both Israel and Turkey, and Kuwait fears the repercussions of a possible American strike on Iran.The two countries also converge in their cooperation in the war on terrorism and in the objective of declawing the Muslim Brotherhood.
Cairo is anticipating that the group will turn into a pressure tool in the hands of the new US administration headed by Biden, and Kuwait wants to restrict the expansion of the Brotherhood’s political influence at home, at a time when Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah is trying to rearrange Kuwait’s internal priorities. Sheikh Ahmed Nasser al-Sabah’s visit to Cairo came about two weeks after a similar visit by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Kuwait. Both countries are attempting to calm things down after the storm raised by the crisis of the Egyptian workers in Kuwait. In the context of these efforts, an official invitation to visit Egypt was extended to the Kuwaiti Amir. Officials in the two countries did not specify the date and objectives of the emir’s forthcoming visit, but the Kuwaiti leader welcomed it while receiving the Egyptian foreign minister. Clouds over the two countries’ relations was caused by complex problems Egyptian workers in Kuwait have been facing, as Cairo feared the deportation of thousands of them to make room for the employment of Kuwaiti nationals. The crisis kicked off a popular storm of criticism on social media in which activists from both sides used vicious and derogatory words. Each party succeeded in cooling down the workers’crisis temporarily in order to devote itself to an understanding about what is more important, because the cost of the row could be exorbitant in the current climate, and Egypt and Kuwait felt that it was wise to effect a rapprochement, because there are different frameworks that unite them and require coordination at this stage. The Arab Weekly
Egypt's Sisi lauds Kuwait’s balanced regional policies
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi praised on Thursday Kuwait’s wise and balanced policies amid the challenges facing the Arab nation in his meeting with Kuwaiti foreign minister Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah in Cairo, the Egyptian presidency said. According to a presidential statement, El-Sisi asserted in the meeting Egypt’s keenness to bolster cooperation ties with Kuwait on multiple fronts. The fact that the two countries share a sustainable development vision -- Egypt 2030 and Kuwait 2035 -- enhances opportunities for bilateral cooperation, El-Sisi told Al-Sabah. Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said the two sides discussed Egypt-Kuwait relations and consulted on the latest regional developments, particularly in Syria and Iraq. The Kuwaiti foreign minister delivered a message from Kuwaiti Amir Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to President El-Sisi, in which he asserted the Kuwaiti government and people’s appreciation of the country’s close and historical ties with Cairo. The message emphasised Kuwait’s keenness to boost cooperation, consultation and coordination with Egypt on all fronts in light of Cairo’s efforts to preserve regional peace and security. This is Al-Sabah's first visit to Cairo after Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah assumed power following the death of his elder brother in September. All Newspapers
FM heads Kuwaiti delegation at OIC Conference
Foreign Minister and Acting Information Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al- Mohammad Al-Sabah headed the Kuwaiti delegation in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 47th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in the capital of the Republic of Niger on Friday. During the opening session, Sheikh Ahmad delivered a speech highlighting the warm welcome and kind words from various officials at the meeting, including sentiments from various entities regarding the passing of late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The Foreign Minister also tackled OIC’s historic role and achievements throughout the years. The 47th session of OIC is being held under the theme
“United against Terrorism for Peace and Development”. Placed on the agenda of this year’s CFM session, Secretary-General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen explains, is a list of topics and issues of concern to the Muslim world. In addition to the Palestinian cause, the fight against violence, extremism, and terrorism, Islamophobia and defamation of religion, the Council will discuss the situation of Muslim minorities and communities in non-member states, fundraising for the Rohingya case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as well as the promotion of dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, and other emerging matters. The OIC and foreign ministers will also discuss, over two days, political, humanitarian, economic, social and cultural and other issues related to science and technology, the media and the progress made in the implementation of the
“OIC-2025: Plan of Action” document. The Council meeting will also feature a
brainstorming session on “Security and Humanitarian Challenges Confronting African Sahel States Members of the OIC”. All Newspapers
Kuwait FM discusses various issues with foreign counterparts
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister (FM) and Acting Information Minister Sheikh Dr.
Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah has met with his Ivory Coast counterpart Ally Coulibaly on sidelines of the 47th ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The meeting is currently held in the city of Niamey, the Republic of Niger. The two sides examined bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, the latest developments in the regional and international arenas. Separately, minister Ahmad Nasser met his Senegalese counterpart Aissata Tall Sall, also on the meeting margins, discussing bilateral relations, regional and international issues. Later, he met Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, examining identical matters. All Newspapers
Kuwait provides $U600,000 to countries impacted by Eta & Iota hurricanes The Cabinet held special meeting at Seif Palace on Thursday, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. During the meeting, the Cabinet approved providing urgent aid, worth USD 600,000, to those affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, as a contribution for those affected to cope with the devastating effects of this tragedy, which resulted in heavy human and material losses. All Newspapers
Domestic Affairs
MOH’s plan to reduce cases calling for “Treatment Abroad”
Rai newspaper acquired a copy of a recent statistics from the Ministry of Health, reveals that the ministry has taken important steps towards reducing number of patients abroad by 58% in 2018, 65.9% in 2019, compared with 2016, while the reduction percentage reached 87.4% during 2020. Informed sources explained that the percentage of reduction during 2020 exceeded the figure in the statistics reaching more than 93%. That is because most of the patients got the approvals in the end of 2019, however their travel procedures were complete in 2020, which applies to the previous years as well, as part of the numbers get the approvals in the end of each year, then they are listed in the next year’s statistics. The sources assured that the major developments the health sector ibn Kuwait witnessed in various specialties, have called for reconsidering the “Treatment Aboard” case.
The sources pointed out that the pandemic has proven that the Kuwaiti health system is strong enough in the light of nearly dispensing with the treatment abroad, as the cases were very limited for 8 months long without affecting the health system or recording any deaths. According to the sources, reducing the cases treated abroad has saved up for Kuwait hundreds of millions of Kuwaiti Dinars which were spent on treatment abroad. The sources saw that the treatment
abroad cases reduction was only due to circumstances caused by the pandemic this year, but also because of the developments the health sector has witnessed like establishing new hospitals and health centers, and providing them with professional expertise and medical staff, the latest technologies and machines, and developing national competencies. The sources concluded that these steps taken by MOH were to strictly face this controversial case with interventions and accusations that make it a window for corruption and wasting public funds. Al- Rai
54 candidates withdrew from Kuwaiti parliamentary. Cabinet warns against holding celebrations after election results
54 candidates withdrew from their candidacy for Kuwaiti parliamentary 2020 National Assembly elections during the past few days, reports Al-Rai daily. The general department for elections affairs of the Ministry of Interior didn’t announce yet the final number of candidates. in a related development, the cabinet on Thursday was briefed during its special session about the procedures for dealing with gatherings, especially during the election, to avoid the spread of infection, and the experiences of friendly countries during the voting process, which was accompanied by a significant increase in infection rates, were also presented. Accordingly, the cabinet was briefed with the recommendations regarding the parliamentary election on December 5, including preventing any gathering outside the election sites, preventing gatherings and celebrations after the election results, preventing the entry to those who do not adhere to wearing a facemask, maintaining requirements for physical distancing, and tightening disinfection and ventilation procedures at election sites. Al-Rai
Al-Hammad: 11 foreign observers to prepare report son NA elections
Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (NAZAHA) and Kuwait Transparency Society organized (on Wednesday) training course for 180 volunteers expected to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. For her part, the Assistant Secretary General of NAZAHA, Abrar Al-Hamamd said that the course is designed to brief volunteers on election law as well as the role of election observes. In addition, she added that 11 observers from Arab countries will visit Kuwait, where they will meet with NAZAHA officials on December 3, pointing out that all official procedures for their entry, accommodation, quarantine and transportation were approved in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice. Al- Anba
Flu shots available to expats in Kuwait next week
As Kuwait is preparing to receive an additional 50,000 doses of the flu vaccine, health officials have announced that it will be available to all Kuwaitis, including expats above the age of 50, Al Qabas reported. A health source told Al-Qabas that those that are eligible and are looking to take the vaccine, should make an
online appointment. The doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine to be given to more segments while expanding access to them soon after confining the vaccine to some groups when the campaign was launched against infectious winter respiratory diseases in mid-October, reports Al-Qabas daily. Health sources informed that appointments and advance reservations will be opened for citizens of all ages and non-Kuwaitis from 50 years and over, especially those with chronic diseases, as of next week, to achieve community immunity against respiratory diseases and combat winter viruses in general. Sources indicated isolated difficulties related to pre-booking of appointments to receive winter vaccination was witnessed this month due to the great turnout this year compared to the past few years, confirming that the increase in health awareness and spread of the Corona virus contributed, to a large extent, to pressure on the website dedicated to setting appointments; thus the lack of appointments available to citizens for November. They pointed out that the Ministry is keen on getting the largest possible number of citizens and residents to receive winter vaccination, especially as some groups such as the elderly and people with special needs are exposed to risk factors, which may lead to serious health complications on the patient’s life- in the event that influenza and pulmonary disease infection vaccines are not received at the right time. Al-Qabas
New health procedures to be introduced for entry to country after accepting coronavirus vaccinations
A new set of health measures will be introduced by the government following the availability of coronavirus vaccines in sufficient quantities, which will regulate the entry of those into the country, Al-Qabas daily said, quoting government sources. According to sources, entry will be permitted for citizens and expatriates from non-prohibited countries, provided they present a vaccination certificate to show they have had the vaccine, or it is sufficient they produce a PCR test report, and mentioned they have spent two weeks in quarantine. This measure is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the country. These health requirements are not applicable to those leaving the country. The daily reports, quoting sources that whoever wants to travel to any country will be subject to its laws regarding health measures. With respect to opening the airport further and allowing entry to nationals from 34 countries on a ban list to the country, the sources indicated the country is undergoing testing during the polling day of the National Assembly elections, and after the results are announced, these matters will be considered with the 34 country ban list to be under review following a report of the daily evaluations by the competent coronavirus committee. Al- Qabas
Economy
Japan to sign 3-mil-barrel storage deal with KPC, allowing Kuwaiti crude marketing
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is set to sign a deal with state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp. on Dec. 1 to lease out 500,000 kiloliter (3.14 million barrels) of storage capacity, a METI source told S&P Global Platts on Nov. 27. The deal will give Kuwait flexibility to meet prompt demand from Japan and other Asian markets as regional consumption gradually recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.The latest deal with KPC will come as METI has been looking to increase the number of oil producing countries, along with Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, storing their oil in Japan for commercial purposes in exchange for prioritizing supply to Japan in the event of an emergency. The latest deal will bring Japan's leased oil storage capacity to the three Middle East producers to a total of 3.1 million kiloliter, or 19.5 million barrels. METI had earlier raised its leased storage capacity to Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. to 1.3 million kiloliter, or 8.2 million barrels each. Prompt demand The expected signing of the storage deal with KPC comes at a time when Japanese refiners are seeing a need to procure crude oil to meet prompt kerosene demand increase.
Japanese refiners have raised their crude procurements to a seven-month high in November as local refiners have boosted their crude procurement from the Middle East in preparation for the country's winter heating demand. The bulk of Japan's incremental crude demand is from the Middle East, where it sources roughly 90% of its requirements. This has been mostly fulfilled for meeting the country's peak heating demand over December-February, traders and sources with Japanese refiners said previously, adding that any uptick in prompt demand can be sourced from Russia's Far East. Middle East focus Japan's largest refiner ENEOS, for example, intends to focus on procuring crude from the Middle East in 2021 because of its relatively shorter voyage time compared with other markets such as the US, according to a company executive. "It is difficult to buy crude oil from outside of the Middle East," Kayo Fujiwara, executive officer and general manager, crude trading and shipping, at ENEOS said earlier in the week, adding that while the market situation remained uncertain amid the coronavirus pandemic, it was still weak. Japan's crude imports from the Middle East have risen above 90% of the total imports most recently this year as it has slashed shipments from elsewhere including Russia, Americas among others.
Japan imported an average of 240,038 b/d from Kuwait, the third-largest crude supplier to Japan so far this year, accounting for roughly 10% of its total imports of about 2.5 million b/d over January-September, according to METI data. The Japanese imports of Saudi crude averaged at 965,594 b/d during January-September, with the UAE crude imports averaging at 819,290 b/d, making the two countries its top two suppliers.
Japan's crude imports from the top three producers accounted for 81% of total imports during the nine-month period. Al-Rai
Mina Abdullah refinery … largest of its kind in Kuwait, says official
The National Petroleum Company said the crude oil distillation unit No. 111 at Mina Abdullah Refinery, which is the largest unit of its kind in Kuwait, with a
refining capacity of 264 thousand barrels per day, has begun launch. The Executive Vice-President for Projects at the National Petroleum Company, Abdullah Fahad Al-Ajmi, said the environmental fuel project’s estimated budget of 4.68 billion dinars, which is one of the largest approved budgets for development projects in the history of Kuwait, through the stages of project implementation over the past years which coincided with many challenges the company succeeded in overcoming. Speaking at a conference held by the company at the Mina Abdullah Refinery, yesterday he said the value of the project contracts is 3.69 billion dinars, and the share of the private sector in the environmental fuel project is currently about one billion dinars, and is expected to reach 1.3 billion dinars by the end of the project implementation soon, explaining that the volume of the local content of the project will reach 35.6% of the total contract value. Al-Ajmi stated that the KNPC has succeeded in completing all project facilities within the approved budget, as the disbursement to this day has reached about 4.4 billion dinars, and what remains is more than enough to complete the rest of the project. On the date of receipt of the remaining units of the environmental fuel project, Al-Ajmi said that he expects the project to be finally received by mid-2021, as the company succeeded in receiving 105 units at Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery in February 2020, and the Mina Abdullah Refinery Package No. 1 has completed about 19 units of out of 29 units, confirming that 63 units within the second package of Mina Abdullah Refinery were received in August 2020. Al-Ajmi explained that the environmental fuel project requires the mobilization of more than 100 thousand workers to complete the project, as well as careful coordination around the clock with a number of responsible authorities in the state, noting that the number of workers at peak times reached about 53 thousand workers of different nationalities, ethnicities and languages, which is what makes it difficult to deal with the huge number of such projects. For her part, Executive Vice-President of Mina Abdullah Refinery Wadha Ahmed Al-Khatib said that the new distillation unit at Mina Abdullah Refinery is the largest of its kind in Kuwait, with a refining capacity of 264 thousand barrels per day, which will increase the total refining capacity of Mina Abdullah refinery from 270 thousand barrels, to 454 thousand barrels per day, and thus it represents the main gateway for the environmental fuel project in the refinery, which in turn constitutes a major quantum leap for the oil refining industry in the country. All Newspapers
KOC shortlists 5 major firms to bid for future projects
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has shortlisted five major international companies – Amec Foster Wheeler, Fluor, Technip, Worley Europe Ltd, and Kellogg Brown
& Root United Company to bid for the provision of comprehensive engineering design services and management of major projects scheduled for implementation within the next five years, reports Al-Anba daily quoting reliable sources from the oil sector. Sources revealed to the daily that KOC will announce the tender
within a month in accordance with the Public Tenders Law, which stipulates the need to make such an announcement one month before the bidding. Work will be distributed to the winning companies, which will provide various services to KOC, in order to align the projects with the budget. Sources disclosed these firms will assist KOC in preparing engineering designs and overseeing the implementation of major projects. They added the contracts will cover design and preliminary engineering works, consulting services in project management, modernization of existing facilities, and some new projects. The engineering and preliminary designs will be implemented in the winning companies’ offices in their countries of origin, while the consulting services will be carried out at KOC’s headquarters in Ahmadi, sources concluded. Al-Anba
Kuwait oil price up 4 cents stands at USD 47.17 pb
The price of Kuwaiti oil barrel was up four cents to stand at USD 47.17 per barrel (pb) on Friday compared to USD 47.13 on Thursday, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) on Saturday. All Newspapers
