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Kuwait, Spain deepen economic cooperation amid growing ties

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KUWAIT: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance Aseel Al-Munifi affirmed Tuesday the strength of Kuwait-Spain relations, highlighting their foundation in mutual economic interests, shared visions, and a joint commitment to prosperity and sustainable development. Speaking to KUNA on the sidelines of the Kuwaiti-Spanish Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation meeting, Al-Munifi said the gathering underscored various pillars of collaboration between the two countries. These include key sectors such as finance, investment, trade, industrial development, and agricultural and food security, all aimed at further enhancing economic exchange and mutual growth.

Al-Munifi emphasized Kuwait’s keenness to benefit from Spain’s expertise in innovation, technology and sustainability. She also reaffirmed Kuwait’s strategic objective to diversify its economy and expand the private sector’s role through a competitive investment environment and a geographically advantageous location that can serve as a regional hub for Spanish enterprises.

She added that the outcomes of the joint committee meeting reflect the “genuine will” of both nations to strengthen their economic and commercial cooperation, with a clear focus on advancing shared priorities in the next phase of engagement. For her part, Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, Amparo Lopez Sinovila, described the joint committee as a vital platform for addressing key economic issues, removing barriers to trade and investment, and fostering meaningful dialogue on areas of mutual interest.

Kuwaiti-Spanish Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation holds talks to discuss finance, investment, trade, industrial development, agricultural and food security.  – KUNA photos

Kuwaiti-Spanish Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation holds talks to discuss finance, investment, trade, industrial development, agricultural and food security. – KUNA photos

Lopez Sinovila called on business chambers in both countries to intensify efforts by organizing forums and specialized exhibitions to explore new trade and investment opportunities. She also encouraged continued exchange of trade delegations and the promotion of Spanish products in the Kuwaiti market. In a related development, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a Spanish trade delegation led by Minister of State for Trade Amparo Lopez Sinovila, with the participation of Spanish Ambassador to Kuwait Manuel Anandiz Gamayo and representatives of leading Spanish companies.

During the meeting, Al-Munifi urged Kuwaiti and Spanish business leaders to pursue joint ventures in key fields such as transportation, construction, healthcare and technology. She reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Spanish companies and helping address any challenges they may face in Kuwait’s market. The Chamber, in a statement following the meeting, welcomed the Spanish delegation and praised the visit as part of ongoing efforts to bolster Kuwaiti-Spanish economic relations. It affirmed that bilateral trade ties are robust, noting that Spain is among Kuwait’s most significant trading partners in the European Union.

Trade between the two countries has surpassed $1 billion, while Kuwaiti investments in Spain have grown across vital sectors such as finance, tourism and energy. Spanish exports to Kuwait, including machinery, ceramics, chemicals, and global fashion brands, continue to find a strong market. The sports sector has also witnessed notable collaboration, with the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy choosing Kuwait for its first expansion outside Spain.

The Chamber highlighted the key contributions of Spanish engineering firms to major infrastructure projects in Kuwait, including the Gamal Abdel Nasser Highway and the airport expansion, underscoring the deepening trust and potential for future cooperation. With Kuwait striving for economic diversification and Spain seeking broader global engagement, the Chamber stressed that the current momentum presents an ideal opportunity to expand cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, innovation, tourism, and logistics. It concluded by affirming its readiness to act as a strategic partner in facilitating dialogue, resolving challenges, and fostering sustainable partnerships that benefit both economies. — KUNA

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Kuwait, UAE team up in drug bust

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PACI employee arrested for forging addresses for bribes • More citizenships revoked

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti security men busted an attempt to smuggle a large drugs haul with a street value estimated at KD 1.5 million, with the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates’ interior ministry, a statement announced on Thursday. The haul consisted of 10 kg of heroin and 100 kg of shabu, an illegal chemical substance, and was destined for an Afghan man who was arrested, the interior ministry said.

Through security cooperation with the UAE, the Kuwaiti authorities received information of the shipment that was due to arrive at Shuwaikh Port and belonged to an organized international network. The container was allowed to leave the port by customs men and the receiver, an Afghan man, was arrested at Amghara industrial area, west of Kuwait City.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah thanked the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Emirati officials for the cooperation that led to the huge bust, stressing the importance of continued security coordination. The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to countering the drug threat and safeguarding national security through local and international partnerships.

Separately, the interior ministry announced on Thursday the arrest of an employee working at the Public Authority for Civil Information on charges of forging official documents and accepting bribes. The ministry said the bust followed information and coordination with officials from the civil information authority, revealing the suspect had exploited his job authority to access the electronic system and change residents’ addresses without their presence or submission of official documents, in violation of established regulations.

Investigations revealed that the suspect had added fake addresses in exchange for payments of up to KD 120 per transaction, abusing his position for illicit gain. He was found to have processed over 5,000 transactions since the beginning of this year in collaboration with a number of middlemen inside and outside Kuwait.

Two middlemen were arrested, along with seven individuals who had paid money to complete their transactions. The suspect was found to have used the illicit proceeds to purchase jewelry, gold bars and luxury items in an attempt to conceal the source of the funds. The suspects and the seized items were referred to the public prosecution for legal action.

Meanwhile, the interior ministry said on Thursday that the Supreme Commission for Nationality has decided to revoke the citizenship of an unspecified number of people for a variety of reasons. The ministry said in a statement that the citizenships were revoked because holders held citizenship of a third country, banned under Kuwaiti law, while others held citizenships that were obtained through false information and forgery.

Some other citizenships were revoked for the sake of the country’s national interests and others because holders violated their loyalty to the country. The ministry gave no details about the numbers. The commission has in the past 15 months stripped over 37,000 people of their Kuwaiti citizenship, about 29,000 of them were foreign women who became Kuwaitis after getting married to Kuwaiti men.

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5-week program aims to prepare Kuwaiti youth for employment

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5-week program aims to prepare Kuwaiti youth for employment

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KRCS, WHO discuss cooperation in health and training fields

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KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) Vice Chairman Dr Nasser Al-Tannak affirmed the importance of enhancing cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) across various health and training sectors, particularly in light of growing global health challenges. Speaking to KUNA following a meeting with WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Kuwait Dr Asad Hafeez, Al-Tannak revealed that KRCS is working towards signing a memorandum of understanding with the WHO’s Kuwait office.

The agreement will cover key areas including mental health, risk awareness, addiction prevention, and the development of specialized training programs. Al-Tannak noted that the KRCS Board of Directors is committed to advancing a comprehensive strategy for training employees and volunteers in accordance with international standards. This initiative aims to enhance their capabilities, particularly in emergency and disaster response operations.

He emphasized that this approach reflects the Society’s vision of building a well-qualified humanitarian workforce, capable of responding swiftly and effectively to humanitarian calls worldwide. He added that KRCS stands as a distinguished example of institutional humanitarian work in the region. During the meeting, WHO officials were briefed on the Society’s wide-ranging efforts in relief, healthcare, development, and humanitarian assistance, as well as its community-driven initiatives and key achievements over the past year. These accomplishments, he said, mark a qualitative leap in KRCS operations and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to serving humanity.

For his part, Dr Hafeez commended the Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s role in conducting awareness campaigns and offering psychological and social support. He also praised the Society’s work in strengthening volunteer capabilities to manage health emergencies. Dr Hafeez stressed the significance of continued collaboration to enhance readiness and response to health crises both in Kuwait and the broader region, noting KRCS’s extensive experience and high credibility in the fields of humanitarian, relief, and public health work. — KUNA

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