KUWAIT: On Tuesday, Kuwaiti Ambassador to the United Kingdom Bader Al-Awadhi and Colin Mackenzie-Blackman from the King’s Foundation signed an agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait and The King’s Foundation, founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 1986, setting out planned cooperation across the remainder of the 125th year of Kuwaiti-British Partnership and beyond.
The agreement, signed at the Kuwait Embassy in London in the presence of Ambassador Sadiq Marafi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Europe Affairs, Belinda Lewis, British Ambassador to Kuwait, and Sheikha Bibi Duaij Al-Sabah, Chairperson of the Al-Sadu Society, incorporates several initiatives including:
(1)The production of a new official tartan combining traditional weaving materials, patterns, colors and techniques from both countries, to be presented in the coming months. The unique design will be registered in the official Scottish Register of Tartans.
(2)The development of two custom-built horticultural facilities at Highgrove House, a private residence of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla, whose gardens are open to the public every March to October. These new facilities will help to educate, and encourage knowledge exchange between, British and Kuwaiti horticulturalists, from young enthusiasts to seasoned experts.
(3)The creation of a three-year horticultural exchange program, which will see horticultural experts from both countries develop and share their knowledge, including through residency programs involving the UK’s Royal Estates. Key themes of this exchange program will be sustainable horticultural and farming practices, improving food security, and helping communities mitigate and adjust to the impacts of climate change.
Belinda Lewis, British Ambassador to Kuwait commented saying: "I was delighted to attend today’s signing of the agreement between the State of Kuwait and the King’s Foundation. The bringing together of heritage crafts and skills in a creative, collaborative way reflects the historic partnership between the UK and Kuwait. We respect each other’s history and culture and remain keen to share our knowledge and experience to tackle new challenges together.”
Bader Al-Awadhi, Ambassador of Kuwait to the United Kingdom, added: "It was an honor to sign the agreement with the King’s Foundation on behalf of the State of Kuwait. This agreement is reflective of the historic ties between our two countries that go beyond the traditional political and economic aspects and provides a great opportunity to grow cultural exchange. We look forward to seeing the results of the horticultural exchange program and the official British-Kuwaiti tartan, and hope this paves the way for continued collaboration.”
Ambassador Sadiq Marafi, Assistant Foreign Minister of Europe Affairs, expressed his sincere appreciation for the conclusion of the MoU with the King’s Foundation. He emphasized that "such interactions help shed the light on the depth, strength, and range of the bilateral relations between Kuwait and the UK.” Adding that "Kuwait is looking forward towards the completion of the project and the training of Kuwaiti horticulturists.”