Ambassador Kelly hails ‘warm and enduring’ Australia-Kuwait ties
Kuwait is the largest middle eastern investor in Australia with $13 billion worth investments
Australia’s Ambassador to Kuwait, H.E. Melissa Kelly, has underscored the longstanding and robust relationship between Australia and Kuwait, describing it as “warm and enduring.”
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 125th anniversary of Australia Day, Ambassador Kelly highlighted the collaborative spirit of Kuwaiti institutions, the significant contributions of the Australian community in Kuwait, and the broad scope of bilateral cooperation spanning trade, investment, education, and humanitarian efforts.
The event was attended by Assistant Foreign Minister for the Americas, Ambassador Nawaf Al-Ahmad, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and the Australian community in Kuwait.
Ambassador Kelly expressed her appreciation for Kuwait’s leadership and the cordial reception Australians receive in the country. She emphasized that the bilateral partnership spans nearly a century of humanitarian relations and 50 years of official diplomatic ties, which were celebrated in 2024.
She noted that bilateral relations have seen significant development in several areas, including food security, investment, education, trade cooperation, and the close ties between the peoples of both nations. She also highlighted that Australians living in Kuwait play a key role in strengthening these links.
The ambassador stated that about 1,000 Australians who live in Kuwait, contribute significantly across business, energy, education, and the wider Kuwaiti society. Their presence reflects Australian values of fairness, transparency, humility, and diligence.
Ambassador Kelly also pointed out the role of Australian universities and educational institutions in bringing global education standards to Kuwait.
Australian engineers and professionals, she said, support energy sector efficiency and environmental sustainability, while Australian companies are involved in notable food and urban development projects in the country.
She stressed the importance of Australia standing alongside countries with shared values and vision, foremost among them Kuwait, to address regional and global challenges.
On the sidelines of the event, the ambassador confirmed that cooperation between Australia and Kuwait is “progressing excellently” and expressed eagerness to continue strengthening friendship and collaboration.
She noted that Kuwait remains the largest Middle Eastern investor in Australia, reflecting the strong economic trust between the two nations.
She also highlighted the growing presence of Australian food products on Kuwaiti tables, especially meat, wheat, and vegetables, amid continued growth in agricultural trade.
Regarding investment figures, Ambassador Kelly explained that estimating the total is challenging due to conservative Australian methodologies, but current estimates indicate around $13 billion, with discussions in Kuwait suggesting the actual figure could be significantly higher.
On livestock shipments, she said supplies continue through the winter, with a seasonal ban in the summer. Australian meat is available locally through the “Al-Mawashi” company, alongside increasing quantities of high-quality chilled Australian meat.
She added that bilateral trade exceeds half a billion dollars, though figures can fluctuate due to the nature of commodity trade.
