Kuwait eager to develop business ties with Malta

The Prime Minister of Kuwait said yesterday his country's doors were open to any Maltese entrepreneurs who wished to generate economic investment between the two countries.

Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah said he was eager to see the friendship between Malta and Kuwait flourish through greater cooperation on matters such as business and tourism.

He was addressing President Guido de Marco who is on a state visit to Kuwait, at the invitation of the Kuwaiti ruler, Amir Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah.

During the state visit, which ends this morning, Kuwait's eagerness to exploit business possibilities between the two sides was expressed on numerous occasions.

"There is an independent institution for investment in Kuwait and they will be happy to meet with you to hear in detail the possibilities of investment in Malta. We are eager to cooperate," the Kuwaiti Prime Minister said.

In fact, impromptu meetings with the Kuwait Investment Authority and the Kuwait Hotels Company were slotted into Prof. de Marco's busy itinerary yesterday.

Prof. de Marco said possible areas of collaboration were identified and discussed at great length with the representatives of these organisations.

He also met with Ali Al Ghanem, vice-president of Kuwait's Chamber of Commerce, who stressed the importance of organising an exchange between businessmen to further tap the possibilities of investment.

"I believe that my personal friendship with the Amir, which has been nurtured over the years, should now be translated into better economic ties," Prof. de Marco said.

"My visit here aims to strengthen economic advantage. There are excellent opportunities we can exploit and the Kuwaitis have expressed eagerness," he said.

As the embassy in Saudi Arabia, which caters for the Gulf states, is about to close its doors, Prof. de Marco was asked whether he felt an embassy in the region was essential to propel business opportunities.

"Embassies, provided they are well exploited, are useful, but we have to wait and see because the government may have other priorities at this moment," he said. Yesterday's highlight for Prof. de Marco was a meeting with his "old friend" the Amir at the Bayan Palace.

At the moment the Amir, who is not in good health, is keeping his public meetings to a minimum.

Present for the meeting were the Kuwaiti crown prince, Shiekh Sa'ad Al Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah, and the chief of the national guard, Sheikh Salem Al Ali Al Salem Al Sabah, among others.

The Amir presented Prof. de Marco with the country's highest honour, the Medal of Kuwait of Mubarek Al Kabir. Prof. de Marco reciprocated, and gave the Amir the Companion of Honour with Collar of the National Order of Merit.

During the short meeting the two reminisced about the hardships Kuwait faced during Iraq's invasion and the determination to rebuild Kuwait after it was liberated in 1991.

Later in the day Prof. de Marco held an informal meeting with Maltese residing in Kuwait, and also paid a visit to the Scientific Centre yesterday evening.

Education Minister Louis Galea, who is accompanying Prof. de Marco, met his Kuwaiti counterpart.

Prof. de Marco returns to Malta today.