By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kuwait hosted a media gathering to introduce Michal Cholewa, the newly appointed Head of Mission, and to recap the embassy’s key initiatives in 2024. In his address, Head of Mission highlighted the historical and contemporary strength of Poland-Kuwait relations, which span over six decades, stating: “It’s a great privilege to be posted here in Kuwait, a welcoming country with which Poland shares a deep bond.” He noted that Polish forces’ participation in the liberation of Kuwait is a testament to the countries’ shared history and emphasized the need to focus on future collaboration, noting that his country aims to intensify dialogue, boost trade volumes, and strengthen people-to-people connections.

Regarding trade relations, he affirmed that it is a key focus, highlighting Poland’s participation in the International Agro Food Expo Kuwait this December, which marks the first time the embassy had taken part in this event. He described the expo as a gateway to the Gulf region, with the agri-food sector playing a pivotal role. “The embassy facilitated the participation of several Polish companies in productive B2B matchmaking sessions. As one of Europe’s largest food producers and a food-secure nation, Poland demonstrated its commitment to supporting Kuwait’s strategy of diversifying reliable sources of agri-food imports. This collaboration underscored Poland’s role as a stable and trusted business partner offering high-quality products,” he added. “Trade turnover between Poland and Kuwait reached approximately $430 million last year, and we are eager to see this number grow,” Cholewa said. He also acknowledged Kuwait’s existing investments in Poland and stressed the embassy’s efforts to expand these further.

The Head of Misson encouraged Kuwaiti investors to explore opportunities in Poland’s agri-food sector, adding: “Poland is a secure country with highly skilled professionals and high-quality products. Our food security aligns with Kuwait’s strategy to diversify its import sources and enhance reserve capacity. Together, we can achieve mutual growth and success.” The ambassador also touched on security and defense, emphasizing Poland’s contribution to regional stability through participation in the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain. In 2023, Poland and Kuwait signed a military cooperation agreement, opening avenues for training Kuwaiti military cadets in Poland.

As Poland prepares to assume the EU presidency in January 2025, he expressed optimism about high-level visits and greater EU-GCC cooperation. He highlighted the significance of the upcoming EU-GCC ministerial meeting, which will bring together ministers from both regions under the leadership of Poland and Kuwait. On tourism, the Head of Mission shared that thousands of Kuwaitis visited Poland last year, saying that there is a direct flight route from Kuwait to Kraków. He expressed ambitions to maintain current flight numbers while introducing routes to other Polish cities. “One of the major achievements was the launch of direct flights from Kuwait to Kraków. This new connection has significantly boosted travel, business, and cultural exchange opportunities. With this route, Poland emerged as one of the top holiday destinations for Kuwaitis in 2024,” he said. The embassy expressed optimism about maintaining this trend, inviting more Kuwaiti visitors to explore Poland’s historic landmarks, scenic beauty, and vibrant cultural offerings.