In a press conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on 24 May, Ambassadors of African Union countries in Kuwait announced that a grand reception will be held on 11 June to mark Africa Day, which commemorates the founding on 25 May,1963 of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor of the African Union.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of Comoros and Deputy Dean of the African diplomatic corps in Kuwait, H.E. Dr. Al-Arif Syed Hassan, explained that Africa Day symbolized the determination of the African people to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation. On relations between Africa and Kuwait, Ambassador Hassan highlighted the long and deep ties that bind Kuwait and the African continent. He commended Kuwait’s tireless efforts over the years to promote and support development in Africa. Additionally, he acknowledged the Kuwait Fund’s collaboration with more than 51 African countries, in providing technical assistance, soft loans, and grants to support project financing and development programs, particularly in infrastructure.
Ambassador Hassan emphasized that in recent years, Africa’s promising and rapid growth has attracted significant foreign investments, including from Kuwait.
He also underscored the strong cooperation between Africa and Kuwait in various fields, including in politics, economy, social affairs, culture, tourism, and humanitarian efforts, including reciprocal visits between leaders of Kuwait and the countries on the African continent, as well as scholarships granted to African students.
On the homefront, he called for the expedited implementation of the African Free Trade Area, an initiative that seeks to establish a common market among all African countries, encompassing a population of 1.4 billion people. This project aims to create the largest global market with an estimated domestic income of up to $34 billion, thereby enhancing local trade, attracting investments, and increasing exports. He highlighted the potential of the region to create at least 18 million additional jobs by 2035.
He noted that Africa is currently one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with a young population of 1.4 billion people and the highest population growth rate globally. This, he said, underlined the continent’s potential in terms of human capital and consumer market.
For his part, Egyptian Ambassador, H.E. Osama Shaltout emphasized Kuwait’s pioneering role in charitable and humanitarian work and expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Kuwaiti charitable organizations in supporting development projects in Africa, including recent initiatives such as the humanitarian air bridge to Sudan. He emphasized that Kuwaiti public benefit associations make a significant contribution to the African continent.
