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Mon - Oct 07 - 2019
News Summary Report KOREA –KUWAIT RELATIONS
The KD 50 Million No-Bid Contract Between “the MPW” and “Hyundai” is in Negotiation Phase
The MPW addressed only two Korean Corporations…. One of them rejected to submit a bid
The KD 50 million no-bid contract, which shall be concluded between the Ministry of Public Works and Hyundai Corporation for Engineering and Constructions to manage, operate and maintain Sheikh Jaber Causeway for the period of 5 years is still mysterious, especially after the Central System for Public Tenders allowed the MPW last July to proceed the negotiation procedures with the company despite rejecting the contract at first.
Dr. Jenan Bushehri, Minister of Public Works previously formed a committee chaired by engineer Suha Ashknani, thle General Manager of Roads and Land Transportation Authority to study companies’ bids to manage and maintain Sheikh Jaber Causeway in preparation to ink a no-bid contract with the company with the cheapest bid, informed sources told Al-Rai.
Sources clarified that after the Korean G5 Co., which implemented Doha Link, rejected submission of its technical and financial bid, the Committee had only to study the bid of Hyundai Corporation in preparation to ink a no-bid contract with it.
Sources wondered that the MPW only addressed two companies to get their bids without addressing the remnant companies that have capacity and efficiency to implement such works.
Sources hinted that the MPW “attempts during this period to consume the biggest possible time till the one-year construction guarantee is completed to avoid any accountability related to this issue. Further, sources remarked that the Committee met recently with representatives of Hyundai Corporation to negotiation on minimizing its financial bid.
The Central System for Public Tenders has previously addressed the General Secretariat of the Cabinet to restore the tender’s documents from the stores of the latter to hastily check the provisions and controls of the contract of establishing Sheikh Jaber Causeway Project. This came especially after MP Osama Al- Shaheen asked Dr. Jenan Bushehri about the reasons why the project is not offered in a public tender. MP Al-Shaheen also asked Bushehri about the reasons of the approval of the Central System for Public Tenders of negotiations on the no-bid contract as per the request of the MPW. Moreover, MP Majed Al-Mutairi warned that “the no-bid contract” will be questioned in the coming session of the parliament.
Al-Rai
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EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Al-Kheder Discussed Cooperation with Algeria and Italy
Staff Lt. General Mohamed Al-Kheder Chief of the General Staff of Kuwait Army received at his office yesterday Colonel Pilot Fito Caracas. The military attache of Italy.
During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual concern, especially those related to cooperation in military fields.
Meanwhile, Al-Kheder received His Excellency, Abdul Hameed Abdawi, Ambassador of Algeria to Kuwait. The most important issues of mutual concern have been discussed.
The chief of staff lauded the depth of relations between the two countries and keenness of both parties to enhance and develop them.
Al-Jareeda
Kuwaitis’ Exemption from Schengen Visa to Be Discussed by the EU Soon:
The French Ambassador
Her Excellency, Ms. Marie Masdupuy confirmed that France is to resume efforts with European partners to exempt Kuwaiti citizens from Schengen visa.
Masdupuy said in a press conference held yesterday that the issue of Kuwaitis’
exemption from Schengen visa shall be soon at the agenda of the Schengen countries in Brussels.
Further, the ambassador lauded Kuwait’s efforts through its membership at the UN Security Council. She confirmed that Kuwait dedicated much attention to settling many pending issues through its position at the UNSC. “Today, we share Kuwait its efforts in setting pace and stability in the region and the region”, said the ambassador.
“Kuwait’s diplomacy is always balanced in its relations with all countries of the region and the world. We will miss Kuwait as an important partner at the UNSC after completion of its non-permanent membership at the UNSC”, she added.
She further said that there is a new list including 108 French universities that allow Kuwaiti students to study in the various specialties in both the English and French languages. “We expect that Kuwait’s Ministry of Higher Education will approve this decision”, she said.
Moreover, she clarified that the French Embassy in Kuwait issues from 50 to 55 thousand visas annually, remarking that the air flights between the two countries have increased from 4 flights on a weekly basis to daily flights.
She also said that there is a military cooperation between Kuwait and France in the field of joint drills and maintenance as per the agreements concluded between the two countries.
She also pointed out that development in bilateral relations between the two countries is continuing in the various fields. The last meeting between the senior officials of both countries was in New York in the middle of last month. We’re preparing for high level visits for the next month.
Al-Jareeda
Nazaha to Partake Tomorrow in Education for Justice Conf. in Vienna
Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (NAZAHA) announced its participation tomorrow (Monday) in the first high-level conference on Education for Justice Initiative to raise awareness over the rule of law, scheduled to be held in Vienna.
In a press statement Sunday, Nazaha said the conference, initiated by the Conference of the State Parties, part of the United Nations Convention against Corruption agreement, which is organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Nazaha said the agenda for this conference will delve into several substantive issues related to the Education for Justice Program, one of the programs issued at the end of the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in Doha in April 2015.
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International Convention against Corruption. The statement by Nazaha also noted that the conference aims to provide the international community with an opportunity to discuss ways and means to promote education towards the rule of law through a variety of innovative educational curricula while highlighting the importance of educating children and youth on the importance of law.
KUNA
ECONOMY
CBK Governor: GCC Central Banks Seek to Enhance Liquidity Predictability
Central Bank of Kuwait Governor Mohammad Al-Hashel says GCC central banks are seeking to create tools for boosting their predictability of banking liquidity.
Governor Al-Hashel, also the President of the Gulf Monetary Council (GMC), was speaking during the inaugural session of a workshop on liquidity projection and analysis, co-organized by the CBK and the GCC Council.
Shedding light on features of the GCC countries’ economies, Al-Hashel cites, as factors that affect liquidity levels, direct and fundamental impact of oil income and pegging of the national currencies to the basket of hard currencies.
These economies are also characterized with free internal and external money movement, he adds, however, he cautions that global developments such as greater trade barriers and political jitters have been affecting the regional countries’ economies.
Advanced states’ monetary policies may lead to adverse outcomes, such as higher debts, sharp fluctuation of exchange rates, thus states may be ultimately in difficulty to honor their obligations.
Meanwhile, the council executive director, Dr. Atef Al-Rashidi, has said in a statement at the event that the workshop addresses projection and management of liquidity in the GCC countries, where the central bank seek to enhance their abilities with respect of forecasting banking liquidity.
KUNA
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DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
Deputy Amir Receives Al-Ghanem, Al-Mubarak and 4 Ministers
He met with the assistant undersecretaries of the Ministry of Oil and Electricity on the occasion of their appointment
His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, the Deputy Amir and the Crown Prince received at Seif Palace yesterday morning His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak, the Premier and Mr. Marzouq Al-Ghanem, Speaker of the National Assembly.
Further, His Highness received Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah, the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister and Anas Al-Saleh, the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs.
Also, HH received Dr. Khaled Al-Fadhel, Minister of Oil, and Minister of Electricity and Water, who introduced to HH Mr. Khaled Al-Dayeen, the Assistant Undersecretary for the Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Oil, Mr.
Mutleq Al-Otaibi, the assistant undersecretary for distribution networks affairs at the Ministry of Electricity and Water, and Ahmad Al-Rashidi, the assistant undersecretary for planning, training and information systems at the Ministry of Electricity and Water on the occasion of their appointment in their new positions.
Al-Jareeda
Development of the Roads is based International Strategies: Bushehri Dr. Jenan Bushehri, Minister of Public Works underlined yesterday the importance of discussing international strategies, studies and visions to dev4elop roads, infrastructure and land transportation sectors.
This came during the inauguration ceremony of the 26th round of the International Conference for Roads in Abu Dhabi Exhibitions Center, where Bushehri chaired the Kuwaiti delegation. 40 ministers, representatives of 120 countries and 151 companies participated in the conference.
“The conference is one of the important international conferences that discuss a number of issues related to the future of transportation networks, land planning, and usage of artificial intelligence in roads planning and implementation”, said the minister in a press statement.
She added that the conference represents a leading platform for officials, investors, innovators, and roads’ experts to present the visions and the latest tendencies of the sector all over the world. This is in addition to the latest innovations presented by countries and companies participating in this vital sector.
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/
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/
