THE TIMES KUWAIT REPORT
Britain is one of our most important allies, and our history with the United Kingdom is full of achievements and honorable positions. The strategic dialogue between the two countries aims to set the overall relationship within an institutional framework, Speaking during a television interview following his visit to Britain last week, Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah stated that the visit of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Britain, and the meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, was cordial and held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Various topics were discussed, and there was a complete similarity of views, and the focus was on the commercial and investment aspects between the two countries.
Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah also revealed that trade and investment relations took the largest share of the meeting, and there was an understanding regarding the future of these relations. He pointed out that Kuwait’s relations with Britain are historic, strong, well established and continuous, and the first agreement between the two countries was signed in 1899. He revealed that next year the two countries will celebrate the 125th anniversary of this bilateral agreement. We consider Britain one of our most important allies, and our history is full of achievements and honorable positions.
He pointed out that the entire discussions revolved around the investment field and all aspects of the investment and commercial partnership between the two countries, and there were also multiple discussions. “We were assured of Britain’s commitment to the security and safety of Kuwait and this was a very clear message from the British Prime Minister to His Highness the Crown Prince during the meeting,” he stressed. There are “developments that are sweeping the entire world, not just in our region, and it is important for us as Kuwait to share the opinion of our allies and coordinate our positions regarding issues that concern both countries.”
He went on to add, “Last March we signed an agreement to establish a strategic dialogue between Kuwait and Britain, with the aim of setting the overall relationship between the two countries in an institutional framework. The framework will focus on the educational, health and economic sectors, and open the way for officials of the two countries to communicate and hold dialogues so as to reach agreements on developing these sectors. This will lead to the development of relations as a whole, and although the strategic dialogue has a political part, it will include most sectors of the state.
He noted, “Our investment office (Kuwait Investment Office) has been in Britain for 70 years, and our investments have doubled in value over the past ten years, and this is an indication of the view of those responsible for our investment sector for Britain as an attractive place for investment. We believe that the British economy will witness growth in new industrial and economic sectors, and the time has come for us to consider investing in new sectors that open the way for Kuwaiti youth to participate in these industries, in terms of employment, training or management.”
Elaborating on investment partnership and setting the frameworks for a future plan for investment in many sectors, Sheikh Salem said, “We signed a declaration of intent regarding cybersecurity. We have a national center for cybersecurity that is being established in Kuwait, and Britain is advanced in this field and will have a major role in helping us establish and develop this center.”
The year 2024 has also been declared “the year of partnership between Kuwait and Britain,” and there will be many celebrations and events that will commemorate the 125th anniversary of bilateral relations, he said.