AMMAN: KuwaitiPrime Minister His Highness Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah's visit toJordan, due tomorrow at invitation of Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, reaffirmeddeep-rooted multi-faceted relations. The visit coincide with the jointcommittee meeting, which would co-chaired by the foreign ministers and isexpected to result in a number of economic, trade and investment agreements.His Highness the Prime Minister is also expected to inaugurate Kuwait Embassy'snew building in Amman.
Relations betweenKuwait and Jordan, established in 1961, have progressed in many domains and thetwo countries are committed to 57 cooperation agreements covering many areas.The two countries have been coordinating positions over many regional issues,including the Palestinian question where Kuwait and Jordan are staunchsupporters of the Palestinian right of freedom and to establish theirindependent state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as itscapital. Kuwait and Jordan rejected, at the Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia and theOrganization of Islamic Cooperation's Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, the USdecision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem. Kuwait,through its 2018-19 non-permanent membership in UN Security Council (UNSC) as arepresentative of the Arab Group, was a solid supporter of the Palestiniancause.
Kuwait believesin the vital role of Jordan in achieving peace and stability in the MiddleEast, and supported Amman's protection of Jerusalem. Kuwait's parliament playeda leading role in supporting the Palestinian cause. Kuwait parliament speakerMarzouq Al-Ghanem and president of Jordan's House of Nobles Faisal Al-Fayezaffirmed, during a meeting in Kuwait last month, the importance of coordinationto address challenges facing the region.
Trade relations
As for tradeties, Kuwait-Jordan trade exchange registered $270 million in November, 2018,according to ministry of industry and trade. Jordan imports plastic,non-organic chemical materials, steel, copper, fuel and oil. Kuwait importslivestock, vegetables, nuts, eggs, dairy products and some house appliances.The two countries signed many cooperation agreements, including air services in1975, prevention of dual taxation on income of corporates and airlines in 1985,economic and trade and technical deal in 1986, encouraging and protectinginvestment in 2001, land transport in 2002 and establishment of a jointcommittee in 2002.
Kuwait and Jordanalso signed tourism agreement in 2007, sea transport deal in 2009, thedevelopment of industrial exports and organization of exhibitions agreement in2010 and a protocol to attract foreign direct investment in 2011, among manyothers.The number of Kuwaitis registered at Amman Chamber of Commerce is 82.They are investing $330 million in information technology and communications,services and consultations, construction and banking.
Top investor
Kuwait is the topArab and foreign investor in Jordan with $18 billion, distributed on tourism,industry, banks, telecommunication, real estate and transport.Among Kuwaitiinvestments in Jordan is Al-Abdali Mall of Kuwait Projects Company, KIPCO,Jordan-Kuwait Bank and Noor company. Kuwait is also investing $1.418 billion inAmman's stock market, the third largest foreign investor, while Kuwaitis own126 real estates in 2017, the fourth largest amongst non-Jordanians.
Kuwait Fund forArab Economic Development (KFAED) contributed to 26 economic and social developmentprojects with a value of $580 million between 1962-2017. KFAED is alsoresponsible for the disbursement of $1.250 billion, which is Kuwait's share infinancing strategic and development project, part of a GCC financial package toJordan, in sectors of agriculture, energy, minerals, roads, education, health,water and transport.
Kuwait built LNGPort that will address energy crisis, establish wind power farm in Ma'an aswell as other infrastructure projects in different governorates that contributedto creation of thousands of jobs.Kuwait also offered a $billion for Jordan,part of $2.5 billion economic package by Saudi Arabia and the United ArabEmirates (UAE), in forms of donations and loans. Kuwait deposited $500 millionat Jordan Central Bank and the rest was in forms of loans for five years. TotalKuwaiti deposits at Jordan's Central Bank is $1.3 billion.
Refugees' crisis
The Syrian crisisforced millions of people to flee to neighboring countries, including Jordanwhich is hosting around 1.3 million Syrian refugees. Kuwait rushed to help theSyrians and KFAED offered $58 million grants in 2014-16 to support theJordanian government's response plan. Kuwait government and privateinstitutions offered relentless support for the Syrian refugees, eitherdirectly or via the government of Amman. Kuwait built two villages named afterHis Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Zaatarirefugee camp, each houses more than 80,000 Syrian refugees. A village consistsof 1,000 housing units, a mosque, two schools and a medical center.
On the otherhand, Kuwait and Jordan enjoy good military cooperation. The two countriesrenewed military cooperation agreement during a meeting of the joint highercommittee last March. Military cooperation began in 1974 when Kuwait opened anattache in Jordan, paving way for the training of more than 8,000 Kuwaitiservicemen in Jordanian institutions up to date. Hundreds of Kuwaitis registerat Jordanian educational institutions, while over 4,200 men and women study atJordanian universities. Kuwait Health Office in Amman is also following upcases of Kuwaiti patients in the country.
In the meantime,the head of the brotherly Kuwaiti-Jordanian commission in the Jordanianparliament MP Haitham Al-Zyadeen arrived in Kuwait yesterday. The rankinglegislator, accompanied by a delegation, has just begun a four-day officialvisit to the country. 'Al-Dustoor' news network said the Jordanian delegationwas welcomed at the airport by the head of the mission of honor MP Al-HumaidiAl-Subaiee, and the deputy Jordanian ambassador to Kuwait Fadi Al-Abadi. - KUNA