News Summary Report Thur /July 11, 2019
KUWAIT-KOREA RELATIONS
Development of “the Smart City” After Establishment of the Real Estate Developer Co. : the PAHW
The official spokesperson of the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, engineer, Ibrahim Al-Nashi said that the PAHW is continuing its dedication of South Sabah Al-Ahmad city project.
He further pointed out that Al-Khairan city project will be dedicated in the 3rd development plan (2020/2021 – 2024/2025), and that the PAHW has previously announced the schedule of housing dedications.
The smart city project of South Saad Al-Abdullah will be developed upon completion of partnership with the S. Korean side to establish a company of real- estate development.
The South Korean News Agency “Yonhap” didn’t state that the S. Korean side seeks to postpone implementation of the project, however, it indicates that the government of S. Korea, represented by the Ministry of Lands and Infrastructure will invest $ 425 million in an investment fund to develop the projects of smart cities outside S. Korea, and that the private sector in S. Korea will complete their finance, which is anticipated to be in the first half of 2020 according to their vision, said Al-Nashi in a press statement today.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of Planning and Design at the PAHW, engineer Nasser Khuraibat denied what has been published by one of the private committees in their social media accounts of a statement ascribed to him that there are errors in roads’ planning at Al-Metla’a project to be borne by the Public Department for Traffic.
The PAHW undertakes the works of planning and design according to the requirements of the concerned authorities and subject to the approved basics and
standards, he said in a press statement yesterday, pointing out that master plans are approved after completing detailed traffic studies.
Al-Jareeda
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Relations with Kuwait Expanded at Various Levels: Jordanian Minister Due to the keenness of both Jordanian and Kuwaiti leaderships, both countries managed to expand ties at various levels, said a Jordanian Minister Wednesday.
This remark came from Jordanian Minister of Interior Salamah Hammad Al- Sahaim during his reception of Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Aziz Al-Daihani.
According to a ministerial statement minister Al-Sahaim commended the strong relations linking Jordanian King Abdullah II and His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, deeming it as "unique"
within the Arab world.
He affirmed that the Ministry of Interior of Jordan has always followed up on Kuwaiti nationals in the Kingdom, making sure to facilitate procedures during their stay in the country.
On his part, Ambassador Al-Daihani commended relations with Jordan, lauding the efforts carried out by the Jordanian leadership and the Ministry of Interior in favor of Kuwaiti nationals.
Minister Al-Sahaim and Ambassador Al-Daihani discussed during their meeting ways to enhance relations between the two countries.
KUNA
Kuwaiti Defense Minister Regrets Accident of Qatari Military Aircraft First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Sabah on Wednesday sent a cable to his Qatari counterpart Khaled Al- Attiyah, regretting the collision between two military training aircraft earlier today.
Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad has noted in the cable that he is grateful that the planes’ pilots have been unarmed.
KUNA
Kuwait Parliament Delegation in Thailand to Bolster Ties
A Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation visiting the Kingdom of Thailand on Wednesday discussed ways to enhance cooperation.
A statement by the delegation said that the Thai National Assembly Speaker, Chuan Leekpai and the Thai-Kuwaiti Parliamentary Committee extended an invitation to the Kuwaiti delegation to visit the country.
The Gulf State delegation handed during its visit an invitation to Leekpai to visit Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti delegation’s meetings with Thai legislative officials focused on various issues, including further facilitation of procedures for Kuwaitis seeking treatment in Thailand and also touched on increasing Thai exports of agricultural goods to Kuwait amongst other issues.
The Kuwaiti parliamentarians brought up the subject of the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Mynamar, calling on regional states, including Thailand, to support solutions to put an end to the mistreatment of the Rohingya.
Head of the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation MP Ali Al-Deqbasi stressed the importance of the visit, especially with it occurring after the new parliamentary election in Thailand, including that this opened a new phase in Kuwaiti-Thai legislative ties.
He also commended the Kuwaiti diplomatic mission in Thailand, headed by Ambassador Abdullah Al-Sharhan, saying that they were doing a tremendous job in consolidating relations.
On his part, head of the Thai-Kuwaiti parliamentary friendship committee Wan Mohammad Nour commended relations with Kuwait, stressing the importance of bolster commercial exchange between the two countries.
He also lauded Kuwait's humanitarian efforts, which contributed to world security and peace.
The Kuwaiti delegation is headed by MP Al-Debasi and includes MPs Khaled Al-Shatti and Ahmad Behbahani, as well as Fatima Al-Qazwini from the National Assembly's Secretariat.
KUNA
Kuwaiti National Security Apparatus Chief meets US Ambassador to Kuwait
Chief of the National Security Apparatus in Kuwait, Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali met at his office yesterday with Ambassador of the USA to Kuwait, Lawrence Silverman mutual relations between the two countries and the means of their enhancement and development.
During the meeting both sides discussed means of cooperation and the most important mutual issues of concern to both countries regionally and internationally.
Al-Seyassa
Terrorism and Organized Crime Threaten World Peace: Kuwait
Kuwait underscored that day of the week that despite difference in means of terrorism and organized crime, they are similar in threatening world peace and security.
Terrorist groups finance their operations via organized crimes in some regions including trafficking in drugs, arms, and humans; immigrant smuggling, illegal trade in natural resources and kidnapping for a ransom, said Kuwait Permanent Deputy to the UN, Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi in a word at the UN Security Council on existing relations between terrorism and organized crime.
Further, Al-Otaibi mentioned that terrorism phenomenon and organized crime represent a great challenge on inflicted countries, and this might lead to exacerbating disputes in such regions.
“We can’t face the existing relations between terrorism and organized crime unless through the adoption of international cooperation and consolidation of efforts on the regional and international levels, and also through anti-corruption, money laundry combating, and adoption of new strategies with regional and international dimensions”, he added.
Further, Al-Otaibi said that Kuwait issued a law regarding combating money laundry and terrorism financing. The articles of this law has many precautionary procedures.
Al-Otaibi also mentioned that Kuwait joined many international treaties related to combating organized crime and terrorism.
During 2017, Kuwait presided the financial work group for the MENA region in order to combat money laundry or terrorism financing.
Al-Seyassa
Fatah movement lauds Kuwait ‘support’ of Palestinian cause
Palestinian Fatah movement, chaired by President Mahmoud Abbas, lauded on Tuesday Kuwait’s historic stands in favor of the Palestinian cause. Kuwait has significant and key role in the Palestinian cause’s history, particularly in hosting the Palestinian people, Fatah’s Deputy-Chairman Mahmoud Al-Aloul stated.
Al-Aloul made his remarks while meeting with a visiting delegation from the Kuwaiti education ministry at Fatah’s Mobilization and Organization Commission headquarters, noting the Kuwaiti-Palestinian relationship is beyond diplomacy.
For her part, Dalal Salama, member of Fatah’s Central Committee, said Kuwait played an important role in hosting the Palestinian revolution and Fatah movement. “Fatah movement wanted to host you at its own headquarters to tell you that you supported the movement since its establishment,” said Salama.
“We believe you would leave a notable mark within the next days,” she said, Fatah welcomes delegation of Kuwaiti Ministry of Education affirming Kuwait’s continued support of the Palestinian cause as a top priority on all levels.
For his part, Fahad Al-Ghais, Assistant Undersecretary for Financial Affairs at the Kuwaiti education ministry, indicated that the number of Palestinian teachers in Kuwait has reached 190 over the past two years. Al-Ghais, also head of the Kuwaiti visiting delegation, added teachers from the Gaza Strip had the lion share
of contracts this year, noting the harsh living conditions endured by Gaza’s residents in light of the ongoing Israeli blockage and high unemployment rate.
Arab Times
ECONOMY
Kuwait Oil Price Down to $ 64.32 pb – KPC
The price of Kuwaiti oil went down 54 cents to $ 64.32 per barrel (pb) after being at 64.86 pb Monday, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Wednesday.
On a global level, the Brent Blend crude went up five cents to $ 64.16 pb, the same case with the West Texas Intermediate, which went up 17 cents to $ 57.83pb.
KUNA
Assets of Traditional Investment Corporations Dropped to KD 2.68 Billion Assets of traditional investment corporations in Kuwait, which are 27 corporations dropped during the first five months of the current year by nearly KD 314 million, equivalent to 10.4% to reach KD 2.68 billion in December 2018.
This is in view of the hard conditions and the absence of investment channels.
Moreover, this may be ascribed to the volume of huge financial commitments on such companies since the world financial crisis.
Foreign assets of investment companies dropped by nearly KD 240.4 million (19.6%) to reach KD 985.5 million last May opposite KD 1.2 billion in December 2018.
However, assets of investment corporations in local banks dropped by KD 11.3 million to reach KD 204.3 million opposite KD 215.6 in December 2018 with a growth rate of nearly 11.3%.
Meanwhile, credit facilities provided by investment companies to residents dropped by KD 9.6 million to reach KD 325.6 opposite KD 333.5 in December 2018 with a drop rate of nearly 2.8%.
Local investments for investment companies dropped by KD 8.1 million (0.8%) to reach KD 990.1 million opposite KD 998.2 million. However, financial investments for investment companies dropped by KD 4.7 million with a drop rate of (0.5%) to reach KD 853.6 million last May opposite KD 858.3 million in December 2018.
However, non-financial local investments dropped by KD 3.4 million by the end of last May to reach KD 136.5 million opposite KD 139.9 in December 2018 by 2.4%.
Due to the commitment of traditional investment companies to pay their financial commitments, their debts to local banks dropped in the first five months of 2019 by KD 51.7 million with a drop rate of 10% to reach KD 473.8 million last May opposite KD 525.5 million in December 2018.
Al-Seyassa
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
Promotion of Boursa Kuwait Enhances Economy and Increases Trust: Al- Ghanim
Speaker of the National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Ghanim received at his office yesterday Minister of Commerce and Industry, State Minister for Services Affairs, Khaled Al-Roudhan accompanied by members of Capital Market Authority commissioners, board of directors of Boursa Kuwait Co. and Kuwait Clearance Co.
Al-Roudhan and his accompanying delegation gave a presentation and explanation of all the efforts exerted during the last years, which led to promotion of Boursa Kuwait to emerging financial markets as per the rating of Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) for emerging markets.
Meanwhile, Al-Ghanim commended all the efforts exerted from the concerned bodies and sectors, which led to this achievement that enhances the position of Kuwait economy and increases trust in it. This is an important step towards transforming Kuwait into an economic and financial hub in the region.
Al-Seyassa
A Plan to protect Labor
Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Mariam Al-Aqeel underscored the continuous work undertaken by the Public Authority for Manpower (the PAM) to provide all sorts of support and protection for labor in Kuwait, especially those in problems with their sectors or sponsors.
Al-Aqeel pointed out that the PAM formed competent teams in domestic labor department, which was transferred to the PAM last April with a total of 34 employees distributed on 5 divisions to receive and follow-up all issues.
This includes administrative support section, domestic labor dispute section, inspection section and license registration section. They undertake 22 different procedures that aim to protect the rights of domestic labor and to provide care them with care.
She further emphasized that Domestic Labor Department abrogated the breaching ads on social media accounts like “housemaid for sale” or housemaid for assignment” in cooperation with owners of apps or accounts in an amicable way.
Moreover, Al-Aqeel stated that Kuwait returned a housemaid to her country after detecting that she was a minor.
She clarified that the number of suspended domestic labor offices reached 44 till last June.
Al-Qabas
Rubber Asphalt Technique is Not Applied in Kuwait: MPW
Minister of Public Works underscored that the technique of “rubber asphalt” is not applied in the State of Kuwait.
She pointed out that there is an experimental road project between the MPW and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to apply the technique of rubber asphalt, which has been used in many countries around the world.
KISR has completed the preparatory stage of the experimental road project using rubber asphalt, said the Ministry in response to a PM question.
However, the MPW asked to postpone implementation of the project to provide Road Authority with some data including mixture percentages, and special specifications in order to control preparation of the design mix at the factory and implementation in-situ.
The Minister further clarified that there is no units to mix rubber with bitumen at any of the factories producing asphalt in Kuwait at the present time.
She indicated that the Ministry approved the general framework of the mixture that aims to improve the works of implementation, construction and maintenance of roads. This involves the use of an improved mixture that is void of natural sand as one of the ingredients of the asphalt mixture, and to add polymer to bitumen to improve its properties.
Al-Jareeda.
Sources:
KUNA: http://www.kuna.net.kw/Default.aspx?language=en
Al Rai: http://www.alraimedia.com/
Kuwait Times: http://www.news.kuwaittimes.net/website/
Arab Times: http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/
MEED: http://www.meed.com/
Al Anbaa: http://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper
Al-Seyassa: http://al-seyassah.com/
Al-Anbaa: https://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper/
Al-Jareeda: http://www.aljarida.com/
