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News Summary Report Wed/ Sept. 19, 2018
Domestic Affairs
Amir Receives New Ambassadors’ Credentials, Meets State Officials
His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Seif Palace yesterday the Speaker of the National Assembly, Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem. His Highness the Amir also received His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Sabah.
Furthermore, His Highness received the credentials of the new Spanish Ambassador to Kuwait, Alvaro Rodriguez, the Malaysian Ambassador, Dato’ Mohammad Ali Selamat, the Hungarian Ambassador Istvan Gyula Soos, and Qatar’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Bandar Al-Attiyah. The audience was attended by Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs, Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al- Sabah. It was also attended by Undersecretary of Amiri Diwan and Head of His Highness the Amir’s office Ahmad Al-Fahad, Advisor at the Amiri Diwan, Mohammad Abdullah Abu Al- Hassan and Head of Amiri Protocol, Sheikh Khaled Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al- Sabah. Acting Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Dhari Al-Ajran, and Amiri Guard Commander Brigadier Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Zain also attended the meetings.
Hi Highness the Amir also received Chairman of the Public Anti-Corruption Authority Abdulrahman Al-Nemash, as he handed the Amir the Authority’s second biannual report.
Nemash also handed a copy of the report to His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah later yesterday. Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince also met with His Highness, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad at Bayan Palace yesterday.
In other news, a decree was issued yesterday appointing Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad as Undersecretary of the Amiri Diwan and Director of His Highness the Amir Office with the rank of a minister – Kuwait Times
Kuwait Public Works Minister Provides Digital Service Soon
Ministry of Public Works announced Tuesday that the Ministry will introduce 525 Electronic Service (E-Services) on its website very soon.
Director of Planning Department at the Ministry, Eng. Iman Al-Omar told KUNA that the aim of e-services is to reduce procedures’ time and turn paper-less. The aim of the e-services is to use modern technology in all government services and to respond to the needs of citizens easily and quickly, he said.
Al-Omar added there are 454 services available within the electronic payment service. She said 49 services includes health engineering sector, Finance and Administrable Affairs sector, and Environmental Affairs Department in addition to water desalination sector.
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“The ministry’s government center for quality control and research control provides 444 e- services related to ministry affairs and 32 services provided by maintenance sector – KUNA Ahmed Al-Fahad Appointed as Deputy of the Amiri Diwan and Amir Office Manager with the Rank of Minister
Amiri resolution has been issued to appoint Ahmad Fahad Solieman Al-Fahad as deputy of the Amiri Diwan and manager for the office of His Excellency the Amir with the rank of a minister – Al-Anbaa
Prime Minister Chairs Supreme Petroleum Council Meeting
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah chaired the Supreme Petroleum Council’s meeting, held at Bayan Palace yesterday.
The council members discussed a host of issues listed on the agenda. Separately, His Highness the Prime Minister chaired the cabinet’s weekly meeting, held at Seif Palace on Monday.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al- Saleh welcomed the return of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah to homeland after an official visit to Washington recently.
The cabinet affirmed that this visit was a real translation of the deep historical relations between Kuwait and the US. The cabinet expressed its appreciation for the successive reactions at all official and popular levels in the Gulf, Arab and international countries, which reflected the keenness of these countries and their principled positions in rejecting prejudice to the symbols of Kuwait and its leader.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, briefed the cabinet on the results of his participation in the Arab League’ meeting held in Cairo, Egypt, during which he discussed means of supporting the UN Relief and Works Agency Palestinians (UNRWA).
The cabinet reviewed the recommendation of the Economic Affairs Committee on a draft law approving the final account of the Capital Market Authority for the financial year 2017/2018.
The cabinet decided to approve the draft law and submit it to His Highness the Amir in preparation for transmission to the National Assembly.
On the other hand, the cabinet discussed the recommendation of the General Services Committee concerning the periodic report submitted by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare regarding removal of some obstacles in the project of South Saad Al-Abdullah Housing City - Kuwait Times
Fuel Oil for Electricity Sold at World Prices: The Higher Petroleum Council
The Higher Petroleum Council held a meeting yesterday presided by His Excellency the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak at Bayan Palace.
Al-Anbaa has been informed from official oil sources that the council has approved the closing account of Kuwait Oil Company and its affiliate companies for the fiscal year 2017/2018.
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Sources further indicated that primary approval has been gained on modifications requested by KOC on the project of Al-Zour Refinery and assignment of the strategic committee of the Higher Petroleum Council to discuss the issue.
Sources also mentioned that the Higher Petroleum Council requested to cancel an operational unit at Al-Zour Refinery, expand another unit and add a new unit in order to alter the project altogether by means of changing consumption pattern of the Ministry of Electricity.
A proposal has been made to do re-pricing of the fuel oil supplied to the Ministry of Electricity and Water subject to the world prices, and to assign the financial committee to study the matter – Al-Anbaa
Sudden Visits to Prisons: Human Rights
The National Human Rights Council issued a resolution of appointing a chairman and vice chairman (free) as well as 9 board members for 4 years that is renewable once only.
Al-Anbaa newspaper has been informed that the board member that is appointed by the Cabinet shall have a period till the coming November to accomplish the regulations, which include rules of organizing its works, tasks and labor affairs.
According to legal sources, the Council is characterized by independence and shall be overseen by the Cabinet. Moreover, it has an independent budget. The Ministry of Finance is assigned the responsibility of dedicating a balance for it for the remaining period of the fiscal year 2018/2019.
Among the most important tasks assigned to the Council is to enhance and protect human rights and to spread, consolidate and respect public and private liberties. In order to achieve this, it makes follow-up of reforming institution centers and the different care houses by means of field or periodical or sudden visits.
The following are the names of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and members of the board:
Jassem Mubarak Al-Mubarki – Chairman
Dr. Seham Abdul Wahab Al-Fareeh – Vice Chairman
Khaled Mohamed Solieman Al-Maghamis
Huda Abdul Mohsen Al-Shaiji
Dr. Yousef Ziab Mohamed Al-Saqar.
Dr. Abdul Reda Ali Asiri
Consultant/Nawaf Abdullah Al-Mohmal.
Zakariya Abdullah Salem Al-Ansari
Ali Ahmad Al-Baghli
Mona Jassem Mohamed Al-Atteya
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Maha Barjas Humoud Al-Barjas – Al-Anbaa
Limak, Sabah Al-Ahmad Center to establish Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Under the patronage of the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh, Limak Insaat Kuwait SPC yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC), founded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).
Under the agreement, both parties will explore areas of cooperation including but not limited to stimulating the initiation and coordination of cooperative activities, promoting the technical training of engineers and technical staff and exploring areas of cooperation leading to the establishment and operation of the Kuwait Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (KIEC).
Over 350 Kuwaiti inventors will benefit from the new KIEC project that will provide them with total care from the beginning of their invention till realizing it into a commercial project.
“Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) has a budget for public projects, and SACGC is a nonprofit organization, so they will finance this project while Limak will execute it. Workshops at KIEC will provide financial and technical help to inventors through experts in the field,” SACGC Chairman Barrak Al-Subaih told Kuwait Times. KIEC is an incubator project that aims to promote and enable intensive and innovative technologies in Kuwait.
Limak Insaat Kuwait SPC is an independent subsidiary of Limak Holding, one of the world’s leading contractors currently constructing the New Passenger Terminal II at Kuwait International Airport (KIA) – Kuwait Times
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Economy
KOC’s Increase in Natural Gas, Oil Contributes to Meeting Needs
Increasing free natural gas and light oil by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) will help contribute to meeting the country’s pressing needs of gas and reaching new global commercial markets, said Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water, Bakheet Al-Rashidi on Tuesday.
The success of KOC to produce 500 million cubic feet of Jurassic free natural gas and 175, 000 barrels of light oil per day is considered a historic achievement of the company, the minister added in a statement to KUNA today.
This achievement was made through the completion of operating the three new plants for Jurassic production that locate at oil wells of East Raudhatain, West Raudhatain and Sabriya, north of the country, he noted.
The accomplishment contributes to implementing the strategy of developing free gas and light oil, he said.
It comes within the framework of continued efforts by the oil sector to raise production to 850 million cubic feet of free gas in 2020 and to be one million cubic feet in 2022, the minister explained.
The oil sector’s efforts also seek to increase light oil to 240,000 barrels per day in 2020 and 280,000 barrels in 2022, he pointed out.
Al-Rashidi congratulated His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the government as well as all Kuwaitis on this achievement – KUNA
Number of Non-Qualified Expats Has Been Minimized – Faults of the Past 15 Years Couldn’t Be Treated in One Year: Al-Sabeeh
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Economic Affairs, Hind Al-Sabeeh confirmed that “ Faults of 15 years in the population structure couldn’t be settled in one or two years”, adding,” the coming period shall witness a path of decisions related to the expat labor in Kuwait and shall contribute to settle this issue”.
“The recent statistics indicate significant reduction in the number of non-qualified labor”, Al- Sabeeh declared in a press release. She further noted that there are positive indicators of reforming the population structure in Kuwait by means of reducing the number of expats and standardizing recruitment to be exclusive on trained and qualified labor that shall benefit the labor market in Kuwait.
Al-Sabeeh said that work is being done to complete automatic connection with authorities that are associated with Domestic Labor Department, which is scheduled to be transformed into the Public Authority for Manpower soon.
As for Al-Durra Company, she declared that there is a tendency to restructure it soon. The Minister also said that the board of the manpower department shall be changed soon as its 4
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year tenure are about to end, and that delay of signing agreements with foreign countries to recruit domestic labor is associated with the foreign countries themselves- Al-Rai
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External Affairs Kuwait FM Receives Letter from Omani Counterpart
Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah received yesterday a letter from Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yousuf Bin Alawi. The letter included ways of further cementing relations between the two countries at all levels, as well as issues of mutual concerns.
This came during the reception of Omani ambassador to Kuwait, Adnan Al-Ansari, at Bayan Palace, who delivered the letter to Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled and both discussed the latest developments on both regional and international arenas. The meeting was attended by Assistant Foreign Minister for GCC Affairs, Ambassador, Nasser Al-Muzayyen, and Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Saleh Al-Loughani – Kuwait Times
Kuwait Uses its Best Discretion in the Trading War between USA and China
The Public Authority for Investment drafted its road map to deal with the potential resulting risk from the trading war between USA and China.
“Kuwait is not away from these developments, especially that its investments are spread worldwide, especially in USA”, said the Public Authority for Investment.
“Kuwait Stock Market might witness some fluctuations that hit international stock markets because of exposure of some of its companies listed on investment channels abroad in a way or another”, it added.
However, the Authority assured that crises, which hit international markets couldn’t be considered as pure evil as they might create investment opportunities that could be seized. It further indicated that it adopts several strategies that aim to protect Kuwaiti investments including purchasing of hedging contracts, investing in real assets like real estates and infrastructure projects and optimizing percentage of liquidity of investment portfolio to maintain the highest percentage of liquid money.
The Authority noted that “the US-China trading war which has already started will not be exclusive to the borders of those countries, however, it will have dire consequences on the world economy as a whole”.
It indicated also that “fluctuations of Kuwait Stock market might create investment opportunities in the local market that could be seized via national portfolio”, Al-Rai
Kuwait Congratulated Chile for the National Day and Sent Condolences to Nigeria His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad sent a cable of felicitation to President of the Republic of Chile, Sebastian Panera on the occasion of the National Day for his country.
Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah sent a cable of condolences to President of Nigeria, Mohamed Bukhari – Al-Rai
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Al-Ghanem Discussed with Deputy Speaker of Yemen National Assembly Means of Enhancing Relations and the Latest Developments
Speaker of the National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Ghanem received at his office yesterday deputy of the Yemen national assembly, Mohamed Ali Al-Shadadi and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of his formal visit to the State of Kuwait.
During meeting, mutual relations between the two countries and means of enhancing cooperation between them in the various fields were presented. The meeting also discussed the latest developments in Yemen in addition to a number of issues of mutual concern.
The meeting was further attended by Deputy of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Eissa Al-Kandari.
Al-Ghanem also received Kuwait’s Ambassador to Australia, Munzer Al-Eissa and Kuwait’s General Consul in Frankfort, Khaled Al-Mutairi.
On his part, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Eissa Al-Kandari confirmed strength of relations between Kuwait and Yemen and the necessity of increasing cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of the parliament – Al-Rai
Jordan’s Delegation Visited Ports’ and Private Security Sectors
Assistant Deputy Minister of Interior for Ports’ Security Affairs, General, Mansour Al-Awadhi received a delegation from Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan presided by manager of airports protection, staff colonel, Essam Ibrahim, who paid a visit to the specialized training center at ports security sector to view capabilities, educational plans and development of this center.
The delegation has also viewed the training courses that are currently going on at the specialized training center (Ports Security Sector). A tour has been at the hall and departments of the center. A visit has also been made to the general directorate for special securities forces – Al-Rai
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World News Korean leaders hold summit in Pyongyang
South Korea’s president and the North’s leader Kim Jong Un drove together through the streets of Pyongyang yesterday past thousands of cheering citizens before opening a summit where Moon Jae-in will seek to reboot stalled denuclearization talks between his hosts and the United States.
Kim and Moon embraced at Pyongyang’s international airport - where the North Korean leader had supervised missile launches last year as tensions mounted. The North’s unique brand of choreographed mass adulation was on full display as hundreds of people waved North Korean flags and another depicting an undivided peninsula - while the South’s own emblem was only visible on Moon’s Boeing 747 aircraft.
Thousands of people, holding bouquets and chanting in unison “Reunification of the country!”
lined the streets as Kim and Moon rode through the city in an open-topped vehicle, passing the Kumsusan Palace where Kim’s predecessors - his father and grandfather - lie in state – Kuwait 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/
