On 17-18 April, Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli was on an official visit to Kuwait.
The Prime Minister held meetings with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Chairman of the National Assembly Jasem Mohamad Al-Kharipi, and the members of the royal family. Zurab Noghaideli also met Managing Director of Kuwait Investment Authority Bader Al-Saad, Deputy General Director of The Kuwait Fund of Arab Economic Development Hisham Al-Vakaian. In the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait, the Prime Minister of Georgia was received by Chairman of the Chamber Ali Tunain Al-Ganim and Kuwaiti businessmen.
At the meeting with the political government of Kuwait, the parties touched upon the important issues of the relations between the two countries, discussing the situation in the region. They stressed the need for strengthening cooperation in the economic sphere and focused attention on the areas that, in the opinion of the parties, would be promising for attracting Kuwaiti capital. To intensify relations and promote tourism between the two countries, the parties made a decision to start work on the project to simplify VISA regime between Georgia and Kuwait. In addition, the Kuwaiti party proposed that Georgian days be organized in Kuwait that, in their opinion would enable the people of Kuwait to get to know Georgia closer and intensify economic relations between the two countries.
At the meeting in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait, the parties discussed the specific areas in which to invest. The Prime Minister provided the businessmen with information on the reforms already carried out and on those currently underway in Georgia and the investment climate that followed these reforms. The Prime Minister also touched upon the privatization process. At the meeting the parties discussed the opportunities for Kuwaiti businessmen to invest in Georgia. The businessmen demonstrated interest in banking, telecommunications, construction and tourism sectors.
At the meeting with the representatives of The Kuwait Fund of Arab Economic Development and Kuwait Investment Authority, the parties discussed the various matters related to the financing of the road infrastructure rehabilitation projects proposed by the Georgian delegation. These are 10-year-long projects intended to rehabilitate and build Georgian roads stage by stage. The decision was made that the Tbilisi roads rehabilitation project implementation would kick off in the nearest future. For the purpose, the Fund will allocate approximately 17 million US dollars. The parties agreed that considering the importance of the question, the implementation of the first stages of the project would start before the signature of the contract.
The Kuwaiti party was also satisfied with the results of the visit. The business sector of Kuwait showed keen interest in making investments in Georgia. As Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah said, the visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia in Kuwait was very productive and would serve as a solid basis for bilateral cooperation as well as for the development of relations between Georgia and other countries of the Persian Gulf.
Prime Minister's Press Service