Officials Discuss Bilateral Russian-Kuwaiti Cooperation in Moscow
Advisor to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov held a meeting in Moscow with Kuwaiti Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Mansour Al-Otaibi.
The two officials discussed expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two countries and agreed to hold joint business and cultural events as part of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Kuwait, which will be celebrated in March 2023. A Kuwaiti delegation is expected to take part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on 14–17 June 2023.
Opening the meeting, Kobyakov welcomed Al-Otaibi and congratulated him on taking over as Kuwaiti ambassador to Russia on 20 September 2022. Kobyakov expressed confidence that the Kuwaiti Embassy in Moscow will continue working to further strengthen multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. The officials noted that Kuwait’s ascension as a member state to the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Forum, which was held in Astana on 12–13 October 2022, will expand opportunities for collaboration for all the parties involved and help to fully implement the declaration on the transformation of the CICA into an international organization.
“An intensive dialogue is under way at the level of the heads of ministries and agencies of Russia and Kuwait and also within the framework of international cooperation. The importance of such contacts is growing even more in the context of the current reformatting of the system of international relations,” Kobyakov said.
The officials noted that cooperation in various sectors has been insufficient, but has huge potential for expansion. In particular, Kobyakov and Al-Otaibi discussed the possibility of abolishing the visa regime between Russia and Kuwait. They believe this step would be an important milestone in the mutual integration of the two countries’ business processes.
“There was general agreement on the importance of enhancing the bilateral relations between the two countries on many fields including trade and investment,” Al-Otaibi said.
Kobyakov and Al-Otaibi paid special attention to steps to expand joint investment projects. During the meeting, the parties agreed to establish a Russian-Kuwaiti investment fund with the participation of the Roscongress Foundation to expand cooperation in various energy and food projects. The ambassador noted that Kuwait is an acknowledged leader in these sectors among all Gulf countries.
The 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries is of particular importance in the context of strengthening cooperation. The two officials discussed the possibility of holding business, cultural, and scientific events during the anniversary year of 2023 both in Russia and Kuwait as well as cooperation between the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Roscongress Foundation.
Kobyakov emphasized the importance of Kuwaiti delegations participating in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum in 2023 in order to inform the Russian market about Kuwaiti projects. He also said it is crucial for young specialists and scientists from Kuwait to participate in the youth sessions of these forums.
“Above all, we need to conclude an agreement or a memorandum on cooperation to make arrangements for major entrepreneurs and youth leaders of Kuwait to participate in the SPIEF and EEF, and in subsequent years to make the forums an annual meeting place for big business and the authorities of the two countries. In the future, similar business missions, including with delegations from the governorates of Kuwait, could be organized to other regions of Russia with the support of the Roscongress Foundation,” Kobyakov said.
The SPIEF is traditionally regarded as a venue for dialogue on key issues on the global agenda and can be used as a platform for Russia and Kuwait to sign bilateral investment agreements.
