Sharq workshops to be evacuated to eliminate 'environmental harm'

KUWAIT: Kuwait's Minister of State for Economic Affairs Maryam Al-Aqeel briefed the Cabinet yesterday about privatization of the North Shuaiba Power Plant, part of the state's quest to privatize services. During the Cabinet's weekly meeting chaired by Acting Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Aqeel also talked about a feasibility study to privatize major workshops in Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW), Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh said in a statement. He said Aqeel mentioned studies regarding the telecommunication sector in the Ministry of Communication. Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Nayef Al-Hajraf briefed the cabinet about progress in implementation the 2018 national strategy against money laundering and terrorism financing, which would contribute positively on assessment by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and MENAFATF.

The Cabinet, on another issue, assigned the Public Authority for Industry to allocate the former location of the slaughter house in Industrial Shuwaikh Area for owners of workshops in Sharq, who should vacate their premises. This step, said Saleh, followed fire incidents which caused harm to environment. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah briefed the cabinet about a recent visit by Tunisian Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to co-chair the higher committee meeting, which resulted in the signature of six cooperation agreements over investment, foreign trade, higher education, culture, environment and Islamic Affairs.

Amir's award

In the meantime, the Cabinet congratulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah over the World Bank's award for his support of socio-economic development and peacemaking on regional and global scales. The Cabinet underlined that the award reflects yet another world recognition to His Highness the Amir's enormous humanitarian initiatives to support development, as well as His Highness the Amir's ongoing endeavors to alleviate the suffering of those in need, wishing His Highness the Amir everlasting health and prosperity. World Bank Group announced on Friday an exceptional award handed to His Highness the Amir in recognition of his support of economic and social development worldwide, and global peace.

Measures in Sudan

The Kuwaiti government also Monday measures underway in Sudan would pave way for security and stability in the country. Furthermore, the government hoped that the measures would honor "legitimate" aspirations of the Sudanese people. It urged the Sudanese people to observe the country's interest in a drive to maintain Sudan's unity, sovereignty and independence. Sudan's Military Council is running the country following the removal of long-time President Omar Al-Bashir on April 11, at the request of protesters. The Council is approaching the protesters to name a civilian to head a government. Thousands of Sudanese people have been staging a sit-in in front of the army headquarters in Khartoum to demand execution of the revolution's demands.

Separately, the Cabinet praised the Saudi Interior Ministry's achievement to thwart a terrorist operation in Qatif province. Saudi authorities announced earlier this week that it thwarted a terrorist attack, plotted by four fugitives in the eastern Qatif region, noting that the security forces seized a number of weapons and explosives in the suspects' vehicle.

The Cabinet also condemned in a statement a recent terrorist attack that took place in Sheikh Zwaid in Sinai, Egypt, which resulted in the death of a number of police officers and the wounding of a number of innocent civilians. Four policemen, including two officers, were killed, in addition to three civilians, among them a child, in a suicide bombing targeting a police force in Egypt's northern province of Sinai last week. The Cabinet stressed rejection to these criminal acts that have claimed the lives of innocent people in violation of all humanitarian laws, norms and values. - KUNA