News Summary Report
Wednesday/ November 11, 2020
GCC Dispute
Reconciliation before or at upcoming GCC Summit possible, sources
Gulf reliable sources confirmed that the parties involved in the GCC standoff are now in the final stage of reaching an agreement which could be announced either before or during the forthcoming GCC Summit slated to be held next month in Saudi Arabia and to be presided by Bahrain. The sources said that the GCC Secretariat General and member countries are now mulling the possibility of holding the Summit either virtually or in a face-to-face method. The sources expressed strong optimism over the possibility of achieving a GCC reconciliation at the upcoming GCC summit, praising the ongoing Kuwaiti mediation efforts in this regard. The sourcse confirmed that Kuwait is committed to resolving the Gulf dispute, pointing out that communication is currently underway in the hopes of finding new ways to reach reconciliation. Al-Seyassah
Resolving Gulf dispute a common priority between Kuwait & the US
Regarding the continuation of US support in the current conditions for Kuwaiti mediation to resolve the Gulf crisis, the US Ambassador to Kuwait Alina Romanowski said, “resolving this Gulf dispute is a common priority between our two countries, and the unity of the Gulf is an important element for the security of the region, and the United States appreciates Kuwait’s commitment to resolving the dispute under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad.” All Newspapers
Strategic dialogue with the US discussed Gulf crisis: Al-Mashaan
Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait for Americas Affairs HE Hamad Al-Mashaan confirmed that the fourth round of the strategic dialogue between the State of Kuwait and the United States of America, which started yesterday, discussed the efforts of the State of Kuwait to mend the Gulf rift and maintain security and stability in the region. “The efforts of the State of Kuwait to mend the Gulf rift and maintain the security and stability of the region were discussed, in addition to discussing the role and contributions of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development globally,” Al-Mashaan said in a statement reported by Kuwait's KUNA. The fourth round of the joint strategic dialogue sheds light on the US' support for the continuing efforts of the State of Kuwait to resolve the Gulf dispute, and also deals with aspects of cooperation to enable Iraq to become more
stable and prosperous, as well as the situation in Lebanon and Syria, the US Ambassador to the State of Kuwait Alina Romanowski said. The fourth round of the strategic dialogue between the State of Kuwait and the United States of America started on Monday via videoconferencing and continues until Nov. 24. All Newspapers
External Affairs
Kuwaiti-French strategic dialogue kicks off tomorrow
The French Ambassador to Kuwait Anne Claire Legendre said that the meetings of the Third Kuwaiti-French Strategic Dialogue will start virtually tomorrow to review the bilateral relations and ways to promote cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Legendre asserted the importance of the strategic dialogue in drawing a roadmap for the future expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two sides in the political, economic, military heath, education, culture and security fields. All Newspapers
Kuwait, Swedish FMs discuss cooperation against Covid-19
Foreign Minister and Acting Information Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah received Tuesday a phone call from Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde on boosting cooperation against coronavirus pandemic, the foreign ministry said. The two senior officials also discussed regional and international developments, issues of mutual interest and bilateral relations, a ministry statement said. All Newspapers
Lebanon to upgrade diplomatic representation in Kuwait to Ambassador level soon
Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sharbl Wahba has named the Director of his Office Mr. Hadi Hashem as the Charge d’affaires to Kuwait, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting high-level Lebanese diplomat sources. The sources asserted that the Lebanese government has a strong interest in elevating to the level of diplomatic representation between the two countries to the level of ambassador to further develop ties with Kuwait at all levels, expecting this could happen after the formation of the new Lebanese government. Al-Seyassah
Domestic Affairs
Election commission disqualify 34 candidates
The commission tasked with scrutinizing the applications for the parliamentary elections next month has reportedly suggested that 34 candidates should not be allowed to run. In its report to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anas Al-Saleh, the commission said that 33 candidates to be ruled out because they do not fulfil the requirements to be eligible to contest seats and while one was disqualified because he didn’t complete resignation process for the running in the election. According, the minister approved the disqualifications recommended by the commission. All Newspapers
Permission to amend status of those whose residence or visa has expired from January 1, 2020 & earlier
Local newspaper Al-Anba reported that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anas Al-Saleh issued a decision allowing those whose residency or visa permits expired from January 1, 2020 and earlier, and those who express their desire to grant him residence in the country or leave and his readiness to pay the prescribed fine without referring him to the investigation authorities, to apply to the General Administration of Residency Affairs to amend Putting it during the period from 1 to 31 December next. Al-Anba
Expats with valid residencies can enter Kuwait
General Administration of Residency Affairs confirmed that expats who have valid residence have the right to enter Kuwait as per the requirements laid down by the Ministry of Interior. The General Residency affairs department refuted the rumors which are going around that those expats who are outside Kuwait if they do not enter by 31st Dec will not be allowed to enter is totally false. There is nothing new in the law regarding absence in the country. Those who are outside Kuwait can renew their residence permit online and there is no need for a review from the residency affairs department. If the Ministry of the Interior decided to take new measures against those expats outside the country, it must be officially announced through the General Administration of Public Relations in the Ministry of Interior.
In response to a question to Al-Anba, about preventing above 60yrs of age holding Article 22 residency (Family visa) are allowed to visit family, the General Residency Affairs stated “Everyone who has valid residency is entitled to enter regardless of age, but health requirements must be met, especially for nationals of the 34 banned countries have to stay in non-banned country for 14 days before
entering Kuwait. In current situations elderly people should avoid traveling to protect themselves from getting infected with corona virus. The source noted that all types of residency permits, especially Article 22, are renewed online, reassuring parents whose children are studying abroad that there is no fear of residency to be cancelled despite being outside Kuwait for more than 6 months. Regarding the opening the visits or entry visas, the source said so far, there are no instructions, and such decision is generally issued by the Council of Ministers, noting that they are the only entity to authorize expatriates for those who do not have residence permits by issuing visit visa or change in residence visa that has expired. Al-Anba
PAM allows companies with contracts of Govt. T oil sectors to recruit from abroad
After a period of eight months, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has started granting work permits for the recruitment of workers from abroad for companies that have government and oil-related contracts, as well as workers with medical and teaching specializations required by the government, reports Al- Seyassah daily. According to informed sources, PAM has set the condition that the Council of Ministers must approve the request. The door for recruitment from abroad is still closed for other companies, as its opening is connected to the end of the COVID-19 wave that seems unabated at the present time. They stressed that the final decision is in the hands of the Council of Ministers. Al-Seyassah
Kuwait Airport to begin operating 24 hours from November 17
The General Administration of Civil Aviation announced the start of operating Kuwait International Airport for 24 hours, starting from November 17th. The Director General of Civil Aviation, Eng. Suleiman Al-Fawzan, directed a letter to the Ministry of Health regarding the review of health requirements at the airport, in which he explained that the representative of the Ministry of Health stated during the meeting of the Executive Committee for the commercial re-operation yesterday that if the required numbers of registration and organization crews are prepared, there is no objection to the ministry from starting The airport will operate 24 hours, indicating that Nass and Kuwait Airways are ready to provide these crews, and that the airport will start operating 24 hours, starting on November 17, 2020. informed sources told that allowing the airport to operate for a period of 24 hours a day aims to facilitate the timing of daily flights by canceling the night flight ban, indicating that the matter will not affect the number of flights mentioned in the first phase of the gradual operation of the airport. The sources indicated that the Civil Aviation Administration is waiting for the Ministry of Health’s response. All Newspapers
Economy
MEW awards GE long-term maintenance contract for 54 substations country- wide
The Kuwait Ministry of Electricity & Water has awarded a contract to GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business, that equips utilities and industries to bring power reliably and efficiently from the point of generation to end-users, for the long-term maintenance of 54 substations located across the country. This is the largest contract of its kind and underlines the in-country strength of GE’s Grid Services to meet the requirements of the Ministry in maintaining the operational efficiency of its electricity infrastructure. The 54 substations of different voltage levels – including 132 and 300 KV, will be maintained by GE’s Grid Solutions for a period of five years, ensuring planned maintenance and emergency intervention for smooth operation. Awarding the contract to GE also builds on the company’s proven track-record of successfully delivering a similar three-year contract, signed in 2016, with the Ministry of Electricity & Water for the inspection, state-of-the-art testing, repair, total maintenance and supply of spares for 54 GIS. Mohammed Mohaisen President & CEO of GE’s Grid Solutions, Middle East, North Africa &
Turkey & SSA, said: “The service agreement, the largest of its kind for us in Kuwait, is a testament to our competencies in meeting the requirements of the Ministry of Electricity & Water. With a strong track-record of delivering long-term maintenance contracts in the country, we will focus on ensuring the timely maintenance of the substations, providing emergency services, and supplying spare parts for preventive and corrective maintenance. We are committed to supporting the Ministry in delivering its goal of providing reliable power supply across the nation.” GE has delivered several key services contracts in the country, including the first asset performance management solution including dissolved gas analysis (DGA) monitoring the health condition of a transformer fleet for the Ministry as well as deployed digital services to modernize the country’s grid infrastructure. GE is a long-term partner in driving the growth of Kuwait’s power generation sector.
GE’s investments in Kuwait include the GE Kuwait Technology Center, that serves three core areas for energy sector customers across the Middle East and Africa: training, tooling and engineering. GE Power operates a Monitoring &
Diagnostics Center (M&D Center) at the GE Kuwait Technology Center (KTC), a facility that provides advanced training, timely customer service and maintenance support. GE technologies deliver over a third of Kuwait’s power today and the company creates employment for more than 250 people in the country. Al-Anba (https://www.utilities-me.com/news/16303-kuwait-ministry-of-electricity-water- awards-ge-long-term-maintenance-contract-for-54-substations-country-wide)
