Embassy of the Republic

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News Summary Report Thurs/ October 81, 2018

Korea-Kuwait Relations

Bu Shehri and Al-Roumi discussed with a Korean Minister Bilateral Ties Minister of State for Housing

Affairs and State Minister for Services, Dr. Jenan Bu Shehri discussed yesterday morning with South Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Kim Hyun-mi work progress follow-up at South Saad Al-Abdullah city as the first smart city in Kuwait.

Both sides further discussed bilateral strategic partnerships.

During the meeting, both sides discussed bilateral relations and means of enhancing them.

Meanwhile, Bu Shehri affirmed the distinguished level of relations between South Korea and Kuwait.

The meeting also focused on means of developi ng and expanding investments of Korean corporations in the Kuwait market for mutual interest, and inviting Korean corporations to benefit from Kuwait Investment Law.

Bu Shehri expressed her keenness to develop relations with South Korea to serve the interests of both parties.

On his turn, Minister of Public Works and State Mini ster for Municipality Affairs, Hossam Al- Roumi discussed yesterday with the

S. Korean Minister and her accompanying delegation means of mutual cooperation.

Ministry of Public Works mentioned in a statement yesterday that the meeting discussed means

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of cooperation in the field of infrastructure and mega projects, and also means of benefiting from the experiences of S. Korean corporations.

MPW also added that the meeting discussed the latest developments achieved by S. Korea in the field of IT, especially ITS.

The meeting was attended by undersecretary of MPW, Awatef Al-Ghunaim and a number of officials at the Ministry.

It is worth mentioning that during the visit, the S. Korean minister made a field tour at T4 in Kuwait International Airport, which is operated by the Korean Incheon International Airports Corporation, and Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah undertaken by Hyundai Corporation – Al- Rai, p.4

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Domestic Affairs

We Feel Pride of Kuwaiti Members Working in Human Rights: The Crown Prince His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad received at Bayan Palace yesterday His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak.

His Highness also received Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled.

His Highness the Crown Prince further met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah.

HH the Crown Prince also received Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Anas Al-Saleh, Chairman and members of the National Department for human rights on the occasion of forming the new board of directors.

HH congratulated them and indicated that this department shall be added to the achievements witnessed by the state of Kuwait in the humanitarian field and also to its contributions in setting human rights subject to international laws and treaties.

HH expressed his pride in Kuwaiti members working in the field of human rights and their efforts to defend the nation’s cases and interests. He wished all of them all success in performing their duties as desired.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Protocols at Diwan of the Crown Prince, HH Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak met the Minister Anas Al-Saleh, and a delegation of the department and he congratulated them and affirmed the role of the department in enhancing the leading Kuwaiti democracy- Al-Rai, p.2

Kuwaiti MP Al-Hashim wins IPU Post

Kuwaiti MP Safaa Al-Hashim on Wednesday was named as deputy head of the Standing Committee on the UN Affairs of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Winning the post was the fruit of strenuous efforts made by Kuwait's National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim and others members of the Kuwaiti delegation to the 139th conference of IPU, Al-Hashim said in a press statement following the win.

Kuwait managed to get this very important position at the standing committee tasked with the UN affairs, she added.

Al-Hashim promised to continue her role in tackling and solving problems during her membership in the committee- KUNA

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Kuwait eager to achieve sustainable development goals -- official

Kuwait is committed to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the national level as it is a participating country in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development issued by the United Nations in 2015.

Kuwait seeks, through this agenda, to achieve completely the 17th goals of sustainable development with economic, social and environmental dimensions, Assistant Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (SCPD) Haifa Al-Mudhaf said on Wednesday during an opening speech at the eighth meeting of the GCC sustainable development program.

The meeting reviews national priorities of sustainable development goals and the expected achievements, she added. It also reviews the first report on indicators of SDGs of GCC states, she noted.

She pointed out that Kuwait has embarked on sustainable development goals through implementing several projects in this regard. Al-Mudhaf stated that the SCPD Secretariat General worked on harmonizing SDGs with the medium-term development plan for 2015/2016 - 2019/2020.

The government established the national observatory of sustainable development and future prospect to ensure that SDGs are in line with the strategic and development plans, she explained.

She said the secretariat is working on preparing the national report to submit it to the United Nations High-level Political Forum in 2019.

She referred that the report would review measures taken by Kuwait to achieve SDGs and determine gaps to be overcome – KUNA

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Economy

Kuwait moves to 54th rank in Global Competitiveness Index

Kuwait has advanced to the 54th position in the annual report of the 2018 Global Competitiveness Index, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.

The report, which placed Kuwait in the first rank in macroeconomic stability, reflected the Gulf country's improved place in 47 out of 90 indexes in different sectors, the ministry said in a release.

It showed Kuwait's improvement in the indexes of judicial independence, press freedom, reduction of burdens of government regulations that negatively affect economic competitiveness, it added.

The report also indicated improved services in transportation, road quality, air transport infrastructure, labor, wage and production, according to the statement.

Kuwait's advanced rank also included the pillars of institutions, such as the reduction of the burdens of government regulation, protection of intellectual property and legal environment efficiency, it said.

Also involved are staff training, vocational training quality, education output skills and digital technology skills, it indicated.

The WEF Global Competitiveness Index report is a key index to gauge service improvement in various sectors. It is the 14th time for Kuwait to be included in the report which measures the competitiveness of 140 countries- KUNA

Japan’s Commercial Surplus with Kuwait Dropped for the First Time since 4 Months Japan’s Ministry of Finance said today that commercial surplus with Kuwait dropped in September with 6.9% in comparison to the last year to reach 46.5 billion Japanese Yen ($ 14 Billion) for the first time since four months.

The ministry added in its report that despite this drop, Kuwait maintained its commercial surplus with Japan for ten years and 8 months as its exports to Japan rose for the fourth consecutive month with 4.2% on a semi-annual basis to reach 64.3 billion Japanese Yen ($ 571 million.

The Ministry clarified that Japan’s exports to Kuwait rose for the fourth consecutive month with 51.6% to reach 17.8 billion Japanese Yen ($ 158 million) – KUNA

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External Affairs

Kuwait, Switzerland maintained close friendship over 52 yrs - Diploma

Kuwait's Assistant Foreign Minister for Europe Affairs Waleed Al-Khubaizi said Wednesday said his country's relations with Switzerland grew steadily in the political and economic fields over the last 52 years The close state-to-state and people-to-people friendship is driven by shared desire of leaders of both countries and the high-level visit exchanges, he told reporters on the fringes of a celebration at Switzerland Embassy to mark the national day of Switzerland.

Al-Khubaizi spoke highly of the fruitful cooperation and coordination at the international forums, saying that both countries maintain almost identical views on regional and international issues of common concern.

The two counties support the humanitarian efforts in areas struck by natural and man-made disasters, and back the initiative to reach peaceful settlement to armed conflicts worldwide, he added – KUNA

Kuwait committed to combat against illicit trafficking of firearms – Official

Assistant Undersecretary of Kuwait's Ministry of Interior for Criminal Security Affairs Maj.- Gen. Khaled Al-Duyayn said Wednesday that his country continues to contribute to the international campaign against organized crimes, including the illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms.

Kuwait is working with the State Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to ensure effective implementation of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition (Firearms Protocol), he said.

Maj.-Gen. Al-Duyayn made the comments in a speech to the ninth conference of the state parties to the Convention.

The State of Kuwait has successful experiences in addressing the phenomenon of illicit possession of firearms and munitions particularly in the wake of the Gulf War of 1991 that led to the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion.

During that time many people took hold illicitly of unexploded ordnance, including weapons, explosives, and munitions, he pointed out.

To tackle this phenomenon, Kuwait adopted a legislation to ban illicit possession of firearms and organize trading therein.

The law specifies the cases and conditions where importation, manufacturing, possession and use of, and trading in, firearms are legal; it also specifies the penalties for violators, Maj.-Gen.

Al-Duyayn explained.

After joining the Firearms Protocol and other international security treaties, the State of Kuwait adopted a range of measures to maximize the role of security services in combating such transnational organized crimes, he said.

In 2015, Kuwait launched a center to combat these crimes and track down the culprits.

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The legislative authority has also passed a law to toughen the punishment for illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms, particularly in cases related to terrorist activity, he added- KUNA

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Sources:

KUNA: http://www.kuna.net.kw/Default.aspx?language=en

Al Rai

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/