Kuwait has carved itself a reputation as the ultimate “humanitarian donor” and “regional mediator,” UK ambassador to Kuwait H E Belinda Lewis said on Wednesday.
In her first meeting with the press since taking over as ambassador Ambassador Lewis said “The end to a lingering Gulf Arab rift is one of many contributions Kuwait has made towards regional and global peace, in addition to its “humanitarian appeals” for war-torn nations such as Yemen and Syria,”
Though her country has long maintained a “deep relationship” with Kuwait, the envoy said she still sees more room for progress in sectors that run the gamut from defense and trade to education and cyber security.
On common challenges, the UK diplomat pinpointed the areas of “food security and health system resilience” as matters of mutual concern, while preserving regional peace and security was a shared goal, she added.
While London, long a hotspot for Kuwaitis, continues to receive visa applications from Kuwait, arrivals from there need to quarantine at home as per rules applied to “amber list” destinations, she revealed.
She went on to describe Kuwait’s “Vision 2035” development plan as a promising initiative with “a range of exciting opportunities” in store for British firms, subsequently pushing export trade between the two countries.
H E Lewis said Increased stability and security in the Gulf is a shared objective for the UK and Kuwait. There are many challenges in the region and we have many concerns in common, for example, about Yemen where the situation continues to deteriorate; and in relation to Iran where we are keen to see a return to its JCPOA commitments. Both of our governments agree on the need to make the ceasefire in Gaza durable, end the cycle of violence and support a long lasting two state solution.
Kuwait has a well-deserved reputation as a regional mediator and humanitarian donor, she said pointing to a recent example of Kuwaiti mediation, the resolution of the GCC dispute. This year Kuwait has also supported international humanitarian appeals for Yemen and Syria and has a proud tradition in this area.
She said that the UK Minister of State for the Middle East, Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, visited Kuwait last month and held extensive discussions with the Foreign Minister, Deputy Foreign Minister and others dignitaries on a range of regional and bilateral issues.
Ambassador Lewis noted that despite the pandemic, their Visa Application Centre remained open in Kuwait. “Currently, Kuwait is on the AMBER list for travel to the UK. There are detailed instructions on the UK’s www.gov.uk website which explain the steps to be taken in order to travel, and provides information about quarantine requirements.”
She noted that visas that have expired during the pandemic will not be renewed automatically. Applications for new visas could be made at the website www.gov.uk or at the Visa Application Centre at Al Raya Tower. However travel restrictions were in place in the UK using the Red, Amber and Green system. This colour coding is regularly reviewed – at the moment, every three weeks. Being vaccinated does not prevent you from carrying the virus, which is why the UK’s entry policy, like Kuwait’s, relies on PCR results.
Ambassador Lewis raised concerns on the restrictions of foreigners from entering Kuwait which creates many hardships and uncertainties. “The Embassy was in close contact with Kuwait authorities on the entry of British nationals in general and some specific cases, but decisions on entry were ultimately made by the Kuwait government. The entry of British nationals was still under consideration by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. Other countries around the world, including the UK, are also restricting entry for public health reasons, she pointed out
New opportunities to build on our existing strong and deep relationship are presenting themselves all the time. Traditional partnerships in Defence, trade and investments are supplemented by new links in Cyber security and technology – this year we are highlighting the particular strength of UK’s innovation and technology capabilities with our Innotech campaign. Education links continue to grow and we are undertaking important work with the EPA on protection of the marine environment and more. There are also shared challenges to face, particularly in the areas of food security and health system resilience.
Ambassador Lewis noted that the JSG continued to be a strong vehicle for bilateral cooperation. The Group provided structure to progress shared objectives including Cyber; Defence; Security; Trade & Investment; Development; Health; Education; and Science & Culture.
The last JSG was held virtually in 2020. The next session of the Kuwaiti-British Joint Steering Group will be held later this summer, hosted in the UK and hopefully in person if permitted.
On trade and investment, Ambassador Lewis said that Kuwait had a historical investment relationship with the UK. The Kuwaiti Sovereign Wealth Fund was established in London in 1953 under the Kuwait Investment Office (KIO). The UK continues to welcome a wide range of corporate and private investments from Kuwait. “And of course, Kuwaiti investment in the UK predates the UK’s membership of the EU and has continued since the UK’s exit from the EU.”
Meanwhile investor confidence remained high across the UK. “We are keen to build on the support we provide to investors. Last year the British Prime Minister announced the creation of the Office for Investment (OFI). The OFI will attract the most strategic investments to the UK focused on a range of sectors including Life Sciences, Clean Energy, Technology and Infrastructure. The UK welcomes Kuwaiti investors who wish to explore these important sectors,” she added.
Regarding Kuwait’s Vision 2035 Ambassador Lewis said it provided a range of exciting opportunities for British businesses. The Department for International Trade (DIT) based at British Embassy promotes business opportunities to encourage foreign investment and export trade between the two countries.
One key project is the Kuwait Airport Expansion which includes the new state of the art Terminal 2 and the construction of the runway. British companies have played a key role in designing the new terminal, drawing on our world leading capabilities. “We are also working with Kuwait on water infrastructure projects where UK companies excel in technical and advisory services,” she noted
Ambassador Lewis pointed out that the upcoming COP26, hosted in Glasgow in November, the development of renewable energy in Kuwait is an area of huge interest. The Shaghaya project will help Kuwait meet its ambitious target for renewable energy, and I hope will draw on UK companies with expertise in design, supply chains and grid management.
On the defence side, she noted that they were working on joint naval and air defence training which will help ensure Kuwait’s security. Cybersecurity is another area where we are collaborating closely with the Kuwaiti government to address this challenge.
On Education she said she was proud that there were approximately 5,000 Kuwaitis studying in the UK and the next generation of students were keen to continue their education at British universities. “The Ministry of Higher Education will award the next round of international scholarships between 19th June and 5th of July and Kuwait has recently published its approved list of UK university courses.”
She said The British Council worked with UK universities, with local agents, with the Ministry of Higher Education, and also helped applicants to prepare and certify their English via IELTS. The British Council and the British Embassy very much hope that the UK remains the number one destination of choice for Kuwaiti students.
The Times Kuwait Report