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News Summary Report Mon / Oct. 15, 2018
Korea –Kuwait Relations
Chairman of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Received Ambassador of South Korea
Ali M. Thanian Al-Ghanim, Chairman of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) received yesterday morning Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kuwait.
The meeting was attended by Mohamed Yousef Al-Nesf, Board Member and Rabah Abdul Rahman Al-Rabah, General Manager of KCCI.
This meeting came in view of discussing means of enhancing mutual economic relations. Al-
Ghanim reiterated the economic significance of South Korea to Kuwait, and he commended
the historical role played by Korean corporations since the 1960s of the last century till today.
Al-Ghanem further added that Korean corporations are currently undertaking strategically important projects, with direct influence on economic development in Kuwait like Sheikh Jaber Causeway Project.
“ Besides, Korean vehicles market has grown significantly and become very competitive in Kuwait”, he added, remarking that Kuwait investment environment is becoming more attractive to foreign capital, especially after the issuance of certain laws, the most important of which is “ Direct Capital Investment Law”, which gives an opportunity to foreign investors to establish companies with 100% ownership. “Korean corporations got benefit from such laws”, he further added.
Al-Ghanim expressed his wish to attract more Korean corporations to Kuwait, and he lauded the great role played by the Korean Embassy in enhancing economies ties between the Korean- Kuwaiti business communities. He affirmed that the KCCI is ready to provide all available capabilities to the Korean side to achieve the mutual strategic objectives.
On his part, Amb. Hong Youngki pointed out that Kuwait is considered as a strategic partner for Korea as a major source for oil. Youngki also indicated that Kuwait has a great effect in Korean development process, and that relations between the two countries have developed significantly recently and included various fields such as development of new cities, environment, means of transportation, and sources of energy.
Youngki expressed his hope for more mutual cooperation, whether on the political side or economic side represented by KCCI – Al-Qabas
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Domestic Affairs
His Highness the Amir hosts State Officials After Sheikh Abdullah Center Wins Int'l Award
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Sunday at Seif Palace Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah and Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs at the Amiri Diwan Abdulaziz Ishaqq.
The reception came after Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre (ASCC) won the International Property Award as the best Public Services Architecture building in the Middle East and North Africa 2018.
They presented to His Highness the Amir the (ASCC) cultural agenda for the year 2018-2019 in title of "Cultural Bridges", as well as the upcoming cultural program for Al-Shaheed Park.
His Highness the Amir has congratulated the officials on the win, which is a high-profile accomplishment that will boost the State of Kuwait civil status and cultural pioneering in the region. Moreover, he has wished managers of this scientific landmark ongoing success and good fortune – KUNA
Ministry of Electricity Purchases Solar Energy from Citizens
Ministry of Electricity and Water in coordination with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) embarks on preparing an agreement to purchase solar energy from citizens, who have installed solar or photovoltaic panels on the roofs of their houses to motivate others to invest in such projects.
Manager of Technical Supervision Dept. at the Ministry of Electricity and Water, eng. Iqbal Al-Tayyar pointed out that “installation of solar panels (thermal or photovoltaic) on the roofs of the houses of citizens shall contribute to minimizing electricity consumption bills”.
“ This agreement shall ensure to consumers, who have electric surplus, that their surplus shall be bought by the Ministry subject to a certain tariff, which shall be determined later”, said Al- Tayyar.
“Articles of the agreement shall include purchasing the energy produced from Al-Shaqya Project”, she added, noting that the “agreement aims to purchase energy subject to the tariff that shall be determined for each phase of the four phases of the project”.
“ The agreement shall further include articles concerned with purchasing electricity produced from sources of renewable energy from entities, which implemented energy production projects by means of installing solar panels on the roofs of their houses and their vehicles’ parking”, she added.
“The Ministry of Electricity and Water has approved a list of specialized corporations in the field of renewable energy to direct citizens, who are desirous to install solar panels above the roofs of their houses to have credibility in corporations approved by the ministry”, she added.
Al-Rai
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Sweden Verifies Certificates of Expat Engineers in Kuwait
Kuwait Engineers Association has completed agreement with an international Swedish company to approve certificates of expat engineers working in Kuwait labor market.
“The company has been working for a long time in GCC labor market and it is responsible for approving certificates of engineers in KSA and UAE, said Chairman of Kuwait Engineers Association, Faisal Duweih Al-Otol to Al-Rai.
“Any engineer submits all his/her certificates to the company and authorizes it to ask information about him, and this entitles the Swedish company to contact his or her university to ask for information about whether the engineer has studied at the faculty of engineering related to the university or not, period of study, scientific subjects and so on as a primary step.
The second step includes verification of stamps and certificate data and then to ensure whether the university has international approval or not”, he added.
“ After ensuring the validity of the engineer’s certificate, the company provides us with a criminal and behavioral record of each person, who applies to approve his university degree and this is an important step in approving labor in Kuwait”, he further clarified.
“The fees shall be collected by the company from the applicant engineer directly in order to avoid embarrassment to our Association”.
Meanwhile, Times of India newspaper reported the news of Al-Rai that there is nearly 1400 Indian engineers in Kuwait, who with no recognized certificates, and it conducted investigation, which affirms that 80% of those degrees are not issued in India – Al-Rai
Kuwait is currently experiencing a sudden sandstorm, causing low visibility with a chance of a thunderstorm, said the Kuwait meteorological center Monday.
Sudden Sandstorm Hits Kuwait, Visibility Very Low – Meteorological Center
Speaking to KUNA, meteorologist Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi said that the strong sandstorm, caused by winds at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour (km/h) from the northwest, has reduced horizontal view to under 1,000 meters.
The sea state will witness huge waves at 7 meters, added Al-Qarawi who predicted that the weather would improve later during the day – KUNA
Aviation normal at Kuwait airport despite sandstorm – DGCA
Despite the abnormal weather condition as a result of a sudden sandstorm, aviation at Kuwait International Airport continued as usual, said the Kuwait General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Monday.
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DGCA's Deputy Director for Aviation Services Khaled Al-Shuaibi told KUNA that as the weather continues to stabilize, horizontal vision would improve from its current number of around 1,500 meters.
For operations to stale at the airport, horizontal vision should be under 300 meters, indicated Al-Shuaibi who added that proper procedures would have been taken if it came to that predicament- KUNA
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Economy KOC Plans to Borrow KWD 16 Billion
Informed sources told “Al-Rai” that KOC plans to borrow KWD 16 billion from the financial organizations to finance its capital programs during the coming five years, starting from 2018.
Sources pointed out that the requests of KOC came as part of explanation submitted to the economic committee at the cabinet regarding its future projects.
KOC demonstrated that its proposed future financial needs are matching its strategic plans, which aim to make Kuwait daily production of crude oil reach 4 million barrels, from 3 million as current production capacity.
KOC indicated that it plans to develop and explore more than 2000 oil wells to reach the targeted production percentage.
Meanwhile, CBK asked that KOC’s study of this issue should be comprehensive and accurate, taking into consideration the feasibilities of those projects, and determination of the ideal funding structure to maximize the feasibility. CBK further requests statement of the nature of challenges encountering oil industry, remarking that the cost of direct borrowing to finance those projects is higher than the cost of sovereign debt.
CBK pointed out that KOC’s borrowing of KWD 16 in 5 years affect banks liquidity conditions and interest rate in KD – Al-Rai
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External Affairs
Choosing Kuwait as speaker for Asian Group confirms its int'l status -- MP
Kuwait's Parliament member Ali Al-Deqbasi said on Sunday that choosing Kuwait, alongside Turkey, to speak on behalf of the Asian Group affirms its respectful status of decision making processes within quarters of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
"Naming the State of Kuwait to be Speaker of the Asian Group reflects the trust and confidence of member states in the important and active role played by Kuwait in the continental and international parliamentary forums," Al-Deqbasi noted.
These remarks came in a press statement following Al-Deqbasi's participation in the coordination meeting of the Asian Group, on sidelines of the 139th Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Geneva.
He expressed hope that carrying out such a task will enhance Kuwait's ability in serving the Arab and Islamic issues.
"We have learned from His Highness the Amir how to attract international support for humanitarian issues, particularly Arabic and Islamic ones," he has noted.
He explained that the State of Kuwait, as being a member in the Asian Group, seeks coordination with other member states to issue important resolutions related to relief operations in Palestine and taking measures to strengthen the application of international law – KUNA
Kuwait's National Guards cooperates with EU body against pollution
Undersecretary of Kuwait National Guards Lt. Gen (Eng.) Hashim Al-Refai affirmed on Sunday significance of today's visit by a delegation representing the European Union Centers of Excellence Initiative to the Guards' affiliated chemical and radiation monitoring center.
Lt. Gen. Al-Refai said in a press release that the visit was due to enhance Kuwait's cooperation with other parties at the international level, in addition to boosting expertise and information exchange.
"This comes as an application to what the strategic objectives document (2020), themed Security First, called for, in line with instructions by the supreme command of the National Guard namely the Chief His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah and National Guards Deputy Chief Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah," he said.
The delegation was briefed about the center and its role to protect the Kuwaiti environment from pollution.
The EU Centers of Excellence (COE) initiative began in 2010 as a new methodology for providing technical assistance to countries outside the union in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk mitigation – KUNA
Al-Nawaf Received Deputy Chief of Egyptian Armament Authority
Chief of General Staff, Staff Lieutenant General Abdullah Al-Nawaf investigated at his office yesterday with deputy chairman of Armament Authority in Arab Republic of Egypt, General
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Mohamed Salah Al-Dein Mostafa and his accompanying delegation issues of mutual concern.
Kuwait Army said in a press statement that during the meeting all issues of mutual concern have been discussed especially military relations and means of their enhancement and development.
The meeting was attended by Chairman of Armament and Preparation in Kuwait Army, General Anwar Al-Mazeedi and the Egy ptian military Attache to Kuwait, Yahia Al-Samadi – Al-Seyassa
Al-Jarallah Met with the Chinese Ambassador
Deputy Foreign Minister, Khaled Al-Jarallah met yesterday with the Chinese Ambassador Wang Di on the occasion of the end of his tenure.
Al-Jarallah expressed during the meeting that he wishes for Ambassador Wang Di success. The meeting was attended by assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for the affairs of the office of the deputy minister, Ayohom Al-Omar – Al-Seyassa
“We Look Forward to Enhancing Cooperation with Accredited Egyptian Universities”, Al-Modhaf
The GM of the Public Authority for Applied Education & Training, Dr. Ali Al-Modhaf affirmed that PAAE always looks forward to enhance academic and scientific research with accredited universities in Egypt and to give opportunity to Kuwaiti students to resume their studies in them.
This came during reception of Egypt’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Tareq Al-Quoni in his office at the PAAE accompanied by 2nd secretary of the Embassy Mohamed Adel with the attendance of manager of PR and Media, and the official spokesperson of PAAE, Fatema Al-Azmi.
Al-Modhaf gave brief explanation about the system of study in the faculties and institutes of the PAAE.
On his part, Egypt’s Ambassador, Al-Quoni asked the possibility of increasing scholarships for Egyptian students living in Kuwait and the possibility of increasing them. He lauded the great facilities provided by PAAE – 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/
Page 8 of 8 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/
