Kuwait Cabinet seeks detailed work plans from ministries for next phase

• Ministries have requested institutions and bodies under their supervision to submit their work plans, strategies, and visions for the next period.

• The plans should include clear implementation plans with specific financial budgets for programs and projects, within a specific timeframe, and clear criteria for measuring implementation success.

• Aim is to resolve concerns about overlapping competencies across entities, as a result of which, certain units perform similar tasks.

Government ministries are taking a proactive approach to planning. They have requested institutions and bodies under their supervision to submit work plans, strategies, and visions for the next period.

These plans are not meant to be mere formalities. Informed sources revealed to Al-Jarida newspaper that the ministries are looking for detailed information about the nature of the institutions’ work and their activities. Importantly, the plans should be implementable.

This means they need clear implementation plans with specific financial budgets for programs and projects. The timeframe for completion and clear criteria for measuring success are also crucial. Accountability will be based on these criteria.

The sources explained that ministries have already begun contacting key institutions. The Capital Market Authority and the Public Investment Authority are among those targeted.

The aim is to activate mechanisms for creating local investments and developing capital markets. This aligns with a larger government plan to define and potentially transfer or merge some of these bodies.

There are some competencies that are unique to each entity, others that are completely redundant across entities, and some that seem similar but differ in function or application. The government is committed to clarifying these overlaps to improve efficiency.

This process may require legal adjustments. Some institutions may need to amend their laws and regulations regarding their competencies. Any cancellation or transfer of competencies requires legislative procedures.

A comprehensive study is crucial before any major changes are made. The sources emphasized that the cancellation or transfer of institutions requires a thorough examination of legal, economic, financial, organizational, and technical aspects.

These institutions have begun coordinating to prepare their reports within the timeframe specified by the Council of Ministers.

Notably, there are concerns about overlapping competencies, particularly related to public projects. Both the Public-Private Partnership Projects Authority and the Technical Unit for the Privatization Program handle similar tasks, such as tendering, awarding, and implementation of projects.

The required plans and strategies aim to define the competencies of each institution under each ministry. This will help avoid hindering any plans for merging or canceling some of them.

The sources cite international examples where feasibility studies for mergers were not successful due to rushed decision-making. This reinforces the need for a thorough and integrated approach before implementing any mergers between state institutions and bodies.