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Sun - Jan 31 - 2021
News Summary Report EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Pakistan, Kuwait to solidify relations
Pakistan and Kuwait have expressed their resolve to move forward for enhancing cooperation in economic, trade, oil and gas, energy, investment, agriculture, Information Technology and health sectors. The resolve is expressed during the visit of a high level Kuwaiti delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister on Asian Affairs, Ali Suleiman Al-Saeed to Islamabad.
According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, during the visit, the Kuwaiti delegate called on Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Islamabad.
Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to forge stronger bilateral relations with Kuwait. He stressed the importance of deepening and diversifying bilateral cooperation; in particular, in the areas of trade, investment, manpower export, and food security.
He also underscored the importance of facilitating travel between the two countries, which could be instrumental in significantly enhancing bilateral interactions in myriad fields. The Foreign Minister lauded the positive and constructive role played by the Kuwaiti leadership towards the resolution of differences among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The Assistant Foreign Minister reciprocated the Foreign Minister’s views on further fortifying the bilateral relationship. He said his visit reflected the keenness of the leadership of Kuwait to enhance cooperation and collaboration with Pakistan in diverse arenas.
During the meeting, the two sides expressed satisfaction at mutual collaboration in multilateral organizations, in particular the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Views were also exchanged on regional developments, including stability in the Gulf, Middle East and China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said Foreign Office.
The Kuwaiti delegation also visited the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Interior Ministry and Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. The Secretary Economic Affairs during the meeting with the delegation emphasized upon enhancing bilateral economic relation for mutual benefit of both the countries. He appreciated the generous support of Kuwait in
development projects in Pakistan and the debt suspension facility provided by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to overcome Covid-19 situation. Both sides took a review of bilateral economic relations and resolved to move forward for enhancing cooperation in economic, trade, oil and gas, energy, investment, agriculture, IT and health sector.
The secretary EAD underscored the need to sign a Framework Agreement with Kuwait Fund for financing the various projects in infrastructure, energy and social sector. Both sides agreed to hold the next Session of Joint Ministerial Commission in near future. The Assistant Foreign Minister of Kuwait hoped that the forthcoming meeting of the Joint Commission will be instrumental in paving the way for future cooperation between the two countries.
Arab Times
MoH partakes in GCC meeting
Kuwait’s Minister of Health Dr. Sheikh Basel Al-Sabah on Thursday took part in an irregular virtual meeting of the GCC Health Ministers’ Committee to study health resolutions of the 41st summit of the GCC Supreme Council.
The minister lauded the GCC Secretariat’s efforts led by Secretary General Nayef Al-Hajraf to prove that the meeting was successful, the Ministry of Health said in a press statement. Sheikh Basel expressed his full satisfaction about coordination and cooperation among health sectors of the GCC states, particularly in sharing the best-practiced policies and programs.
He also extolled sincere and distinguished efforts by health workers, military, security and civil defense personnel and volunteers to combat the novel coronavirus.
KUNA
Kuwait Reiterates Defending Palestinians’ Rights, Arab Identity of East Jerusalem
Kuwait has reiterated its commitment to defending rights of Palestinian people and Arab identity of the occupied East Jerusalem.
This came on Tuesday during a speech delivered by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi in a Security Council session on Palestine’s cause. He said that Kuwait sticks to
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international, Muslim and Arab stance affirming that the Palestinian cause is a central issue to the Arab nation.
Al-Otaibi re-affirmed adhering to peace as a strategic option and solving the Arab-Israeli conflict, in line with the international law, relevant international legitimacy’s resolutions, the principle of land for peace and the 2002 Arab peace initiative to help Palestinians obtain their full legitimate rights and establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He pointed to the efforts made by the Palestinian authorities to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus amid acute shortage of medical equipment, medicines and vaccines due to the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Al-Otaibi expressed sorrow over the recent UN reports on a rise in acts of violence committed by Israel against Palestinians as well as detention campaigns, and the demolition of Palestinian buildings and properties.
The absence of accountability and impunity anywhere and anytime will lead to further crimes, he said, adding that this is happening in the occupied Palestinian terroriteries.
He stressed that Israel continues not to comply with international resolutions and approves building thousands of illegal settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Approving the construction of these units was condemned by the whole international community as it undermines a two-state solution, and is a clear violation of the UN Security Council 2334, international law, human rights and the 4th Geneva Agreement, Al-Otaibi said.
Kuwait reiterated that this is a blatant violation of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2334, he said, calling for putting an end to the illegal Israeli practices and implement all relevant UNSC resolutions.
KUNA
Jordanian King Affirms Keenness on Boosting Cooperation with GCC King Abdullah II of Jordan on Tuesday affirmed keenness on boosting cooperation with the GCC countries and bolstering further “ the solid partnership” between Amman and these countries.
The Royal Court said in a statement that the monarch, during a meeting with the GCC Secretary General, Nayef Al-Hajraf, welcomed outcome of Al-Ula Summit, adding that talks between the two sides dealt with Arab and regional issues, namely the Palestinian cause, where the monarch re-affirmed necessity of finding a just settlement on the cause on the two states’ basis.
King Abdullah also emphasized necessity of unifying the Arabs’ ranks and boosting joint action.
Separately, Al-Hajraf met with Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh who underlined the brotherly relations between Jordan and the GCC countries.
Al-Hajraf noted necessity of the 15th joint committees that cover various forms of cooperation between Jordan and the GCC.
KUNA
ECONOMY
A Shareholding Company with Korea to Provide Multiple Housing Products: Maarafi
State Minister for Housing Affairs and Minister of Services Dr. Abdullah Maarfi disclosed that the number of housing applications till the beginning of January reached 91816, remarking that allocation applications on South Sabah Al-Ahmad Housing City didn’t stop. Further, he stated that the Public Authority for Housing Welfare still receives citizens, remarking that a shareholding company has been established between the PAHW and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to implement various housing products at South Saad Al-Abdullah projects for housing welfare beneficiaries.
“South Saad Al-Abdullah City site has been dedicated pursuant to the Municipal Council decision taken on July 14, 2014, which determined 5 years’ grace period to deliver the site to the PAHW free from any obstacles”, he said in response to parliamentary question regarding the specific time at which the PAHW will receive the allocated lands in South Saad Al-Abdullah. He remarked that coordination is going on with all concerned government authorities to eradicate the remaining obstacles to prepare for kicking out the project operations.
“ Since South Saad Al-Abdullah is not a typical project that is directly implemented by the PAHW by means of offering tenders, and pursuant to the two MOUs inked between the PAHW and LH on May 09, 2015 regarding cooperation and partnership in developing the project as the first smart city in the State of Kuwait, a shareholding company will be established between the two parties to implement multiple housing products for housing welfare beneficiaries, which match the requirements of the smart city, and then those
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products will be offered to housing welfare beneficiaries”, he said regarding the PAHW’s plan to receive dedication applications for citizens in the region.
Al-Anbaa
Specialized Research Series on Governance to be Issued: Reconnaissance Reconnaissance Center for Research and Studies announced that it is about to issue a series of research papers tackling the issue of governance in Kuwait due to its importance, especially after governance has become one of the basic pillars upon which rational, developed and efficient administration system in both public and private sectors is built. Governance aims to support enforcement of the principle of sovereignty of law and justice. Further, it aims to enhance auditing and accountable to achieve quality performance and achieve good use of material, natural and human resources in a way that protects the rights of stakeholders.
“ The Center will publish this specialized research series during the upcoming month of February; and it will tackle several key issues related to the reality of enforcing governance in the public and private sectors in Kuwait in comparison to what is stated in laws, agreements and international instructions”, said Deputy CEO of the Center Mr. Yousef Al-Ghusain.
Further, this research series will focus on two key points:
The first is the role of the government in standardizing governance,
The second is the applications of governance at the Central Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Capital Markets’ Authority.
“ The center, as a dialogue platform” aims through this series in cooperation with competent experts in governance to shed the light on the concept of governance and the positive and negative effects of its enforcement in order to optimize social awareness in general; and to enlighten the decision-makers in particular on its importance in controlling organizations’ businesses, and in protecting the country in a way that is matching the current updates in all economic, social and political fields to reach the best practices related to enforcing governance principles that are agreed upon.
Al-Anbaa
Fiscal Year 2021/2022 Draft Budget
Local media published the Ministry of Finance’s estimate of the public expenditures and revenues for the fiscal year 2021/2022 draft budget. The published figures mention that the public expenditures are about KD 23.048 billion and the public revenues are about KD 10.929 billion, of which about KD 9.127 billion are oil revenues or about 83.5% of the total estimated revenues.
The Ministry estimated the barrel of Kuwaiti oil price at USD 45 or higher by 50% than the August 2020 estimate. Despite this, the size of the potential budget deficit scored about KD 12.119 billion or 32% of the estimated 2020 GDP. The increase in the estimated public expenditures from KD 21.555 billion for the current fiscal year up to slightly more than KD 23 billion means growth in public expenditures by 6.9%, which is a contradictory and an opposite path to the promised financial reform policies.
The public expenditures distribution on the various budget chapters is the same as the traditional distribution or 85% of it, including current spending and the other 15% is called capital spending. The latter is not defined and has nothing to do with the declared development goals nor with the number of sustainable citizenship job opportunities that can be created. While the concern includes most government's financial policy observers domestically or abroad, from the aspect of its inability to deal with the liquidity crisis, or from the aspect of its lack of creativity in developing a medium-term vision to extinguish the public finance fire, while all that it did was the adoption of the same policies during oil prices boom. The difference is that this was not an option, as everyone now knows that they are circumventing the direct or indirect withdrawal from the future generations’ reserves. Besides, everyone also knows that all they are concerned with is buying a few months and maybe a year perhaps to have some sense of continuity. We believe that what encouraged it to continue buying a dangerous time is the possibility that 2020 was a good year, and that future generations' reserve investments achieved a high return due to the rise in asset prices as mentioned by the Minister of Finance; but it is an unsustainable rise and is simply the result of overly expanding monetary policies and quantitative facilitations operations. It seems that the government preferred to mortgage the country's future to risks and undermine the prospect of sustainability by presenting a very short goal related to political maneuvering in an atmosphere of internal political tension. But its cost in the medium term will not be tolerable.
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We still hope that the reason for the government's haste to announce the draft budget is to respect the constitutional deadline for that announcement and that the announcement came from a government whose task is to take action for urgent matters which means that the next government will perform a fundamental review of the project and present an alternative that suggests seriously adopting financial and economic reform policies. Certainly, such a government should not be allowed to borrow.
Al-Shall
Most Important Public Properties in “Boursa Kuwait” 2020
The performance of the Boursa Kuwait in 2020 was declining at the regional level, and also declining at the level of the global stock exchanges. Al Joman Center published details of the declared properties of several public institutions.
We calculated the negative performance impact of the Boursa over the portfolios of the four most important public institutions within the limits of their declared ownership. Value declines are of course governed by price movement and ownership interest. The largest value of the declared properties was for the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) whose ownerships increased to 9 listed companies at the end of 2020 (8 companies at the end of 2019), with the addition of the Shamal Az-Zour Al-Oula Energy and Water Company which was listed on Boursa Kuwait. Its ownership value in these companies decreased from KD 2.260 billion to KD 2.147 billion at the end of 2020. In other words, their investment value decreased by 5% or by KD 113 million, which is lower than the percentage decline in the All-Share Market index of Boursa Kuwait.
Kuwait Finance House (KFH) achieved the greatest decline by KD 110.1 million, followed by Kuwait Investment Company that contributed the second highest decline at KD 12.2 million of that value, then Warba Bank the third- highest decline at KD 11.3 million. While "Zain" contributed about KD 7.2 million in the increase in that value, and 5 out of the 9 companies contributed losses in the total value at KD 137.4 million.
The contribution of the Public Institution for Social Security to the value of its investments in Boursa Kuwait was not far from the KIA’s contribution, but it was broader and included 33 companies. The value of the public institution's investments at the end of 2019 was KD 2.055 billion but their capital value declined by 14.4%, which is higher than the decline in the All-Share Market
index, and the value of its investments at the end of 2020 scored about KD 1.759 billion, declining by KD 296 million. In summary, the prices of 25 companies within its portfolio decreased while 5 companies’ prices increased, in addition to the entry of announced investment in 4 new companies during 2020 and the exit of one company from the portfolio investments. The largest decline in the value within its portfolio was achieved by Ahli United Bank (Bahrain) by KD 122 million. NBK came next with a KD 61.7 million decrease, KFH dropping by KD 54.3 million.
The third significant contributions of public institutions were by the Public Authority for Minors Affairs. Value of its declared contributions in three companies at the end of 2019 scored KD 604 million, and by the end of 2020 it reached KD 555 million, with an 8.1% loss. The investment in KFH decreased in its capital value by KD 47.9 million or by 8.1%.
Al-Shall
Kuwait Oil Price up 4 Cents to $ 54.89 pb
The price of Kuwaiti oil went up by four cents to $ 54.89 per barrel Friday after it was at $ 54.85 pb the day before, said the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Saturday.
In global markets, Brent crude rose up 25 cents to stand at $ 55.35 and US West Texas Intermediate also went up 7 cents to settle at $ 52.36 pb.
KUNA
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DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
AstraZeneca Vaccine in Kuwait this Week
Al-Anbaa has been informed that the anti-COVID-19 vaccine developed by
“AstraZeneca” in cooperation with “Oxford” University will arrive to Kuwait this week after its formal licensing for emergency use by the Ministry of Health.
Sources stated that AstraZeneca vaccine is given on two doses by injection in the arm, remarking that the second dose will be between 4 and 12 weeks after the first week from taking the first dose.
Sources pointed out that the license of emergency use of “AstraZeneca” is granted to persons starting from the age of 18 years old. Moreover, sources indicated that the vaccine is stored in ordinary fridges at a temperature from 2 to 8 C.
As for arrival of other shipments of the vaccine, sources pointed out that determination of the mechanism of arrival will be in coordination with the manufacturing company and the local agent.
Al-Anbaa
Interior Minister Issues a Decision to Divide and Determine Locations of Voters’ Registration Panels
The Ministry of Interior issued a statement on registration of voters at the election lists.
Since Article 06 of the law No. 35/1962, and its amending laws regarding elections of parliament members sets forth that each election circuit should have a permanent election list or more to be edited by a panel or more, which consist of a president and two members; and since Article 08 of the same law sets forth that election lists have to be edited or amended during the month of February each year, the decision of the Interior Minister Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali is issued to divide and determine locations of voters’ registration panels at the election lists, said the statement. These panels will start their work during the month of February this year, it added.
Al-Anbaa
Arrival of a Primary Shipment of “Oxford” Vaccine within Days: MOH The Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Medicine and Food Control Dr. Abdullah Al-Bader disclosed that the ministry succeeded to get a primary shipment of “Oxford Anit-COVID-19” vaccine, which is manufactured at Serum factory in India under the license of AstraZeneca International Company. This is based on the ministry’s keenness not to delay arrival of the shipment to Kuwait, he added.
The MOH issued a license of emergency use of Oxford vaccine based on a decision from the joint technical panel between Medicine Registration and Control Department and Public Health Department to assess and register vaccines, said Al-Bader in a press statement.
Further, he mentioned that this vaccine got an approval from the EMA, and the MHRA, noting that Serum factory is approved by the WHO and the Health Council of the GCC.
Al-Bader added that this decision is taken after comprehensive review by the technical panels, which did compressive assessment of safety, efficiency and quality. Moreover, the panel reviewed the results of clinical trials on the vaccine’s efficiency and safety. Besides, it checked and verified quality reports;
and it assessed basics of good manufacturing at the factories producing the vaccine pursuant to the international standards to ensure quality at all manufacturing phases.
Moreover, he pointed out that the review process included also all the technical and scientific aspects. He stressed that the MOH will undertake accurate auditing and verification of the security and safety of the vaccine after its use.
Meanwhile, informed health sources said that the first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine, which is expected to arrive this week will be nearly 500,000 doses.
Sources said that the total shipments that will be supplied to Kuwait from the British vaccine reach 3 million doses on shipments all during the present year to benefit 1.5 million persons. The value of these doses reach $ 25.680 million ( nearly KD 8 million).
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It is worth mentioning that storage of “AstraZeneca” vaccine is considered as one of its privileges as it doesn’t require extremely low temperature, but it could be stored in ordinary fridge at an average temperature 2 and 8 C. This facilitates taking this vaccine at a clinic or hospital and not at Kuwait Vaccination Center at the Fairground; and this also accelerates vaccination of many categories.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health announced recording 514 new infections of COVID19 during the last 24 hours, and thus the total number of recorded cases of the virus reach 164 thousand and 622 cases. This is in addition to recording a new death case resulting from the virus repercussions, and thus the total mortalities rose to 959 cases till yesterday.
The Ministry stressed on recovery of 501 cases from the disease during the last 24 hours, and thus the total recovery cases from the disease rose to 157404 with a percentage of 95.6% after enduring recovery of such cases after conducting the necessary medical examinations and the applicable procedures in this regard. The number of people receiving medical care at the intensive care departments reach 52, and thus the total number of cases, which have been infected with the disease and still receive the necessary medical care are 6259.
Moreover, the MOH indicated that the number of swabs that have been taken during the last 24 hours reached 8336, and thus the total number of tests since start of the Pandemic till now 1 million, 520 thousand and 587 tests.
Al-Jareeda
Kuwait Changes Airport, Passengers’ Service Fees
Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday announced changing airport and passengers’ services as of June 01.
The new fees will be three KD ($ 9.8) for departing passengers and two KD ($
6.5) for arrivals and will be paid by airlines, DGCA’s Director General Yousef Al-Fawzan said in a statement to KUNA.
He noted that the new fees are in line with that of other international airports.
The decision comes to make a balance between the State’s spending on operating the airport and revenues from its services, he pointed out.
He stated that the new changes are the “lowest” compared with the ones imposed in the regional and international airports.
KUNA
PAM hikes cancellations; ‘Sanitation’ chases illegals
According to official figures issued by the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), the number of cancelled work permits of expatriates increased by 44 percent within just three working days (72 hours) from January 25 to January 27, reports Al-Rai daily.
The number of work permits cancelled on January 27 increased to 5,215, compared to 3,627 work permits cancelled on January 24, thus the increase in cancellation of work permits was 1,588 in three days. According to the figures, this indicates a new acceleration in the cancellation of work permits for expatriates.
The reasons for the cancellation are focused on four main aspects - cancellation of work permit for the expatriate’s final exit from the country, cancellation of work permit due to expiry of residency for expatriates outside the country, revocation of the work permit due to the expatriate’s death, and transfer of the work permit to family visa.
The number of work permits cancelled due to expatriate’s final exit from the country increased by 30 percent during the last three days, as the number on January 27 reached 2,415 compared to 1,859 work permits cancelled for the same reason on January 24. The number of work permits cancelled due to the death of the worker increased by 49 percent, reaching 342 work permits cancelled on January 27, compared to 230 work permits cancelled on Jan 24.
Meanwhile, the Tripartite Committee tasked to track down expatriates who violated the Residency and Labor laws, in cooperation with the Sanitation and Road Works Department at the Kuwait Municipality branch in Farwaniya Governorate, on Wednesday carried out an intensive inspection campaign in Farwaniya and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting sources.
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The United Arab Emirates on Saturday announced plans to grant some foreigners citizenship to this oil rich nation home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, part of efforts to stimulate its economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Arab Times
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/
