Kuwaiti PM Lauds Egypt Role Regionally As Pivotal

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Monday received Kuwait's Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, during which they discussed ways to boost bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

During their meeting in Cairo, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak hailed Egypt's pivotal role in the region as a main pillar for security and stability of the Arab world, as well as its keenness to foster solidarity among Arab nations and to push forward the joint Arab efforts.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Monday received Kuwait's Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah – Courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency

Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak expressed his country's appreciation for the historic ties and various relations linking it with Egypt. He also voiced Kuwait's keenness to enhance cooperation with the African country at all levels, and to constantly coordinate with it on various issues.

The Kuwaiti prime minister, during the meeting, handed a written message from Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber who conveyed greetings to President Sisi.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received Kuwait's Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah – Courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency

President Sisi, for his part, praised the strong and special Egyptian-Kuwaiti relations.

Sisi affirmed Egypt's willingness to develop cooperation between the two Arab states at various levels, including enhancing trade and economic ties, besides attracting further Kuwaiti investments, especially via cooperation between the two countries' sovereign funds.

The president asked Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak to convey his greetings to the Kuwaiti emir, wishing the emir good health and wellness.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Monday received Kuwait's Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah – Courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency

During the meeting, Sisi and Sheikh Jaber also discussed developments at the regional level. Sisi, in this regard, highlighted the bond between the security of the Gulf and that of Egypt.

Sisi also praised the significant role played by the Kuwaiti state to confront the challenges facing the Arab nations.

Kuwait's Emir received Sisi on September 1 this year, and praised Egypt's pivotal role in supporting security and stability of the Arab nations, and its valuable efforts in enhancing joint Arab work at all levels, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Sheikh Sabah affirmed his country's appreciation to Egypt's leadership and people, praising the Egyptian-Kuwaiti relations and sincere historical relations, spokesman Radi said.

The Egyptian-Kuwaiti relations are based on cooperation and understanding on all issues.

According to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas ahead of the Kuwaiti prime minister's current visit, economic relations between the two countries have witnessed a steady growth throughout history. Kuwaiti investments in Egypt rank high among existing investments as it exceeds $15 billion.

Tourism and aviation between the two countries have witnessed a similar growth reflected in the increase in the number of Kuwaiti tourists to around 200,000 tourists on 64 weekly flights between.

A large Kuwaiti community is also inhabiting Egypt, including about 20,000 Kuwaitis, mostly undergraduate and post-university students. In return, Kuwait hosts around 700,000 Egyptian nationals.

In the investment sector, Kuwait is Egypt's third largest trading partner in the Arab world after the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Deputy Prime Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah said in the 12th session of the Kuwaiti-Egyptian joint committee that investments exceeded $15 billion.

The volume of Egyptian exports to Kuwait between 2010 and 2018 amounted to about 984.2 million dinars (about $3.2 billion), while the volume of Kuwaiti exports to Egypt reached 165.3 million dinars (about $543 million), according to statistics of Kuwait's Central Statistics Bureau.

The Kuwaiti prime minister's visit comes in the context of continuous visits between the two countries to enhance bilateral cooperation.

The Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development has covered most of the developmental fields in Egypt during the past years, according to Al-Qabas. The total number of projects financed by the Fund in Egypt since its establishment until September 30 this year is about 50 projects with a total cost of one billion dinars (about 3.4 billion dollars), while the number of grants and technical assistance amounted to about 18 grants worth 17.3 million dinars (about 56 million dollars).

The various projects financed by the Fund in Egypt included development of maritime transport, the pharmaceutical industry, sanitation, power and water plants, the expansion of natural gas networks, and the development of railways.