Kuwait financial sector ... my become financial hub ...2/16/2011
US-Kuwait strong relations allow serious talks on Dev. Plan -- Ambassador
The relationship between Kuwait and the US is unique in terms of its strategic importance in addition to other aspects which allow Washington to promote and support Kuwait's KD 37 billion (around USD 114 billion) five-year plan for development, said US Ambassador to Kuwait Deborah K. Jones here on Wednesday.
During a press roundtable at the US Embassy here on the occasion of Kuwait's 50th Anniversary of Independence, 20th Liberation Day, and Fifth year of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's rule, Ambassador Jones said that the U.S. Embassy would like to share Kuwait's joy of its national celebrations, holding events to showcase the strong bilateral relations.
In reponse to a question by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on how the US could contribute to the development plan, the US diplomat indicated that a partnership could be found between Kuwait's plan and President Barack Obama's export initiative launched earlier in 2011, adding that she had gone back to the US in October 2010 to encourage companies and institutions to work with the Kuwaiti government and private sector on that matter.
Ambassador Jones noted that "we've been working very hard as a mission to try to encourage and publicizes the plan and the opportunities that its has particularly in the infrastructure areas with Boubyan and others in the healthcare fields ... in the environmental areas and trying to encourage American companies to take a good look at coming and playing a role," adding that US also discussed with the Kuwaiti government means to "facilitate" procedures to allow such companies to be involved.
Ambassador Jones called on the Kuwaitis to also work on "one-stop-shop" steps via the internet and others outlets to allow other nations to know about the ambitious plan, saying that such subject was discussed during her meetings with Kuwaiti officials.
On the subject of releasing the Kuwaiti Guantanamo Bay detainees, Fayez Al-Khanderi and Fawzi Al-Oudah, Ambassador Jones said that "It's a very delicate subject. It's of great concern to both our countries. It's obviously one where there has been an ongoing conversation and dialogue about how we can establish the conditions that would make that possible," adding that the Kuwaitis were continuing to put the subject on the table of discussions.
In regards to the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's visit to Kuwait, Ambassador Jones indicated that it was a great thing that an Iraqi official was coming to Kuwait on a "bilateral status" and especially during Kuwait's celebrations, affirming that such visit said a lot about how both governments were willing to handle subjects that caused friction in the past.
She said that it was time to for both Kuwait and Iraq to benefit each other on all possible domains.
Kuwaiti-US relations date back to the early 1900s with the mission of the American Hospital providing medical care for people living in Kuwait.
According to the US Embassy, the volume of trade between the two countries had recovered since the global economic crisis in 2008, pointing out that the US exports to Kuwait were almost at USD 2.6 billion, an increase of 50 percent since 2009.
Kuwait's exports to the US had also recovered, reaching USD 5 billion, 60 percent higher than numbers in 2009.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2145672&Language=en
US-Kuwait strong relations allow serious talks on Dev. Plan -- Ambassador
The relationship between Kuwait and the US is unique in terms of its strategic importance in addition to other aspects which allow Washington to promote and support Kuwait's KD 37 billion (around USD 114 billion) five-year plan for development, said US Ambassador to Kuwait Deborah K. Jones here on Wednesday.
During a press roundtable at the US Embassy here on the occasion of Kuwait's 50th Anniversary of Independence, 20th Liberation Day, and Fifth year of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's rule, Ambassador Jones said that the U.S. Embassy would like to share Kuwait's joy of its national celebrations, holding events to showcase the strong bilateral relations.
In reponse to a question by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on how the US could contribute to the development plan, the US diplomat indicated that a partnership could be found between Kuwait's plan and President Barack Obama's export initiative launched earlier in 2011, adding that she had gone back to the US in October 2010 to encourage companies and institutions to work with the Kuwaiti government and private sector on that matter.
Ambassador Jones noted that "we've been working very hard as a mission to try to encourage and publicizes the plan and the opportunities that its has particularly in the infrastructure areas with Boubyan and others in the healthcare fields ... in the environmental areas and trying to encourage American companies to take a good look at coming and playing a role," adding that US also discussed with the Kuwaiti government means to "facilitate" procedures to allow such companies to be involved.
Ambassador Jones called on the Kuwaitis to also work on "one-stop-shop" steps via the internet and others outlets to allow other nations to know about the ambitious plan, saying that such subject was discussed during her meetings with Kuwaiti officials.
On the subject of releasing the Kuwaiti Guantanamo Bay detainees, Fayez Al-Khanderi and Fawzi Al-Oudah, Ambassador Jones said that "It's a very delicate subject. It's of great concern to both our countries. It's obviously one where there has been an ongoing conversation and dialogue about how we can establish the conditions that would make that possible," adding that the Kuwaitis were continuing to put the subject on the table of discussions.
In regards to the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's visit to Kuwait, Ambassador Jones indicated that it was a great thing that an Iraqi official was coming to Kuwait on a "bilateral status" and especially during Kuwait's celebrations, affirming that such visit said a lot about how both governments were willing to handle subjects that caused friction in the past.
She said that it was time to for both Kuwait and Iraq to benefit each other on all possible domains.
Kuwaiti-US relations date back to the early 1900s with the mission of the American Hospital providing medical care for people living in Kuwait.
According to the US Embassy, the volume of trade between the two countries had recovered since the global economic crisis in 2008, pointing out that the US exports to Kuwait were almost at USD 2.6 billion, an increase of 50 percent since 2009.
Kuwait's exports to the US had also recovered, reaching USD 5 billion, 60 percent higher than numbers in 2009.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2145672&Language=en
