Boursa Kuwait CEO Mohammad Al- Osaimi

KUWAIT CITY, July 14: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boursa Kuwait Mohammad Al-Osaimi said the timeline for debt instrument trading is proceeding as planned, indicating that sukuk and bonds will be traded in 2025. He affirmed that all technical tests for index funds and the bond and sukuk market have been completed, and the regulatory rules are currently being prepared and will be announced within the next few months.

Al-Osaimi announced on the sidelines of the launch of the second part of the third phase of the Capital Market Development Program, which is a major milestone that reflects the market system’s commitment to continue development per international best practices. Regarding the expected volume of debt instrument trading on the stock exchange, Al-Osaimi explained, “The current value of commercial debt instruments does not exceed KD2 billion, but after the approval of the Debt Law, we aspire to list government bonds and sukuk”. He pointed out that the stock exchange has a development program extending over three or four years to introduce major updates to its trading system. He revealed “we will begin testing the new trading system in the second half of 2026.” He stated that the stock exchange is cooperating with the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to review several products to better present them, stressing that the introduction of the CCP and the Central Broker will help the stock exchange offer financial derivatives soon. He explained that these developments will lead to attracting foreign investments, coinciding with increased investor confidence.

About amending the listing requirements on the main market, Al-Osaimi confirmed that “when the reduction of listing requirements on the main market was approved by reducing the company’s capital limit from KD15 million to KD5 million, we received numerous communications from subscription managers in this regard.” He anticipates listings shortly. He disclosed that two family companies are currently negotiating with the stock exchange for listing, explaining that the stock exchange intends to attract companies in various sectors, including commercial, government, and family businesses. He said the listing procedures and requirements are not easy, as companies are being reorganized and prepared for this step, which may require a period that may extend to several years. He clarified that there is currently no intention to list oil sector companies, disclosing that there have been discussions with the Public-Private Partnership Authority to list a government company such as North Al-Zour next year. He added, “The launching of the second part of the third phase of the Capital Market Development Program — the main station — reflects the market system’s commitment to continue development following international best practices.”

He emphasized that “this achievement is a qualitative shift in the development process of the market and it is the result of the concerted efforts of CMA, Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait Clearing Company, Boursa Kuwait, and our partners from banks, investment companies and financial brokerage companies.” He confirmed that this phase witnessed a comprehensive development of the operational and technical infrastructure, including strengthening the clearing and settlement system, upgrading and modernizing trading systems, and improving the market structure through the implementation of the ‘Qualified Broker’ model and the application of more accurate and transparent mechanisms for account management. He explained that this achievement affirms the readiness of the market for more advanced stages in the future, and a shared vision for an efficient and flexible financial market capable of supporting economic development and attracting investments. He confirmed Boursa Kuwait’s commitment to continue this journey, in partnership with all stakeholders, to ensure sustainable development and enhance the position of Kuwait as an advanced regional financial center.

On the other hand, Director of the Trading Department at CMA Khaled Al-Sahli stated that the second part of the third phase of the Capital Market System Development Program includes the provision of financial products. “Trading and post-trading have been activated through the applicable systems, in addition to preparing the structure of the articles, executive regulations and the stock exchange rules,” he disclosed. Al-Sahli indicated that work is underway to approve the executive regulations after the completion of the rules and regulations for settlement and litigation in the Central Depository, which will happen soon. He asserted, “This development step contributes to boosting confidence among foreign investors and increasing foreign inflows, especially with the implementation of the CPP.”

He asserted that such steps taken by the Kuwaiti market open new horizons for brokerage firms. Abdul Karim Al-Yaqout – Director of Strategy and Product Development at Kuwait Clearing Company – pointed out that the third phase is the cornerstone in the process of developing the infrastructure for post-trade operations, led by CMA and implemented by Kuwait Clearing Company, in cooperation with Boursa Kuwait and the Central Bank of Kuwait. Al-Yaqout added that Kuwait Clearing Company plays a vital role in the areas of clearing, settlement, depository, collateral management and risk mitigation; thereby, contributing to the alignment of the Kuwaiti capital market with international standards, such as IOACO and PFMI. He affirmed that there is a reconciliation period extending six months from the start of the phase, in addition to another phase for transferring client funds to brokerage firms after obtaining their approval. He said a date has been set for this phase and July 17 is the deadline for this step

By Najeh Bilal
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic arrives for a meeting of EU trade ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on May 15. (AP)

BRUSSELS, July 14, (AP): European trade ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday, following US President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of 30% tariffs on the European Union. The EU is America’s biggest business partner and the world’s largest trading bloc. The US decision will have repercussions for governments, companies and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. “We shouldn’t impose countermeasures at this stage, but we should prepare to be ready to use all the tools in the toolbox,” said Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, told reporters ahead of the meeting.

“So we want a deal, but there’s an old saying: ’If you want peace, you have to prepare for war.’” The tariffs, also imposed on Mexico, are set to start on Aug 1 and could make everything from French cheese and Italian leather goods to German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals more expensive in the U.S., and destabilize economies from Portugal to Norway.

Meanwhile, Brussels decided to suspend retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods scheduled to take effect Monday in hopes of reaching a trade deal with the Trump administration by the end of the month. The “countermeasures” by the EU, which negotiates trade deals on behalf of its 27 member countries, will be delayed until Aug. 1.

Trump’s letter shows “that we have until the first of August” to negotiate, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels on Sunday. Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s trade representative in its talks with the U.S., said negotiations would continue “I’m absolutely 100% sure that a negotiated solution is much better than the tension which we might have after the 1st of August,” he told reporters in Brussels on Monday.

“I cannot imagine walking away without genuine effort. Having said that, the current uncertainty caused by unjustified tariffs cannot persist indefinitely and therefore we must prepare for all outcomes, including, if necessary, well-considered proportionate countermeasures to restore the balance in our transit static relationship.”  

KUWAIT CITY, July 13: The 2025/2026 budget report revealed that a budget of KD1.497 billion was allocated for construction and major maintenance projects for the fiscal year — an increase of KD46 million compared to the budget last year, which amounted to KD1.451 billion. T

he report indicated that the three largest items in the construction and major maintenance projects budget are buildings and land improvements — KD689.300 million, including construction and major maintenance projects for government, commercial and residential structures; followed by infrastructure with a budget of KD587.675 million, including construction and major maintenance projects for roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, water and sewage networks, communications, electricity and gas.

The third item is the radical maintenance of civil and social service facilities, amounting to KD283.889 million — covering projects for civil and social service facilities. It is worth noting that the entire construction and radical maintenance item includes the amounts paid for new and approved construction projects currently being implemented with additions like expansions, increases, or extensions to an existing asset, as well as the maintenance, replacement, and renovation works.

By Mohammad Ghanem
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff