By Meshaal Al-Enezi

KUWAIT: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs Abdul Aziz Shuaib stressed that Kuwait Farmers Union's board is fully capable of providing various co-ops with local agricultural products, adding that he had conducted a tour Tuesday along with union's chairman and members of various co-ops, during which he found an abundance of various Kuwaiti agricultural products. Shuaib thanked the Kuwait Farmers Union's board of directors and all farmers for their efforts in providing produce at reasonable cost.

Kuwait Farmers Union Chairman Abdullah Al-Dammak thanked the union and co-op board members for their cooperation in providing local products, expressing hope that all co-ops will one day have special outlets for local products. Dammak also thanked Minister Mariam Al-Aqeel for her efforts in subsidizing local agricultural products to protect and maintain food security, especially at this time when Kuwait and entire world are going through hardships due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The union's deputy chairman Hussein bin Samel expressed gratitude to those who had contributed in implementing the ministry resolution on providing co-ops with local products directly without the need for any middlemen, noting that the decision proved fruitful for both farmers and consumers, who can now get local products at reasonable prices and with high quality. Kuwait Farmers Union treasurer Jaber Marzouq explained that thanks to Kuwaiti farmers, the union is able to provide co-ops with 30 to 35 kinds of local vegetables produced at Wafra and Abdali farms.

Inspections
Kuwait Municipality's Public Relations Department said Farwaniya municipal inspectors toured various shops in Riggae, Andalus and Ardiya industrial area to make sure they respect municipality regulations and apply its precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Team leader Ahmad Al-Sheriekah said inspectors filed four citations and dealt with three complaints received through the hotline.

Meanwhile, Jahra municipal manager Thamer Al-Mutairi said an inspection tour headed by the follow-up manager Mohsen Al-Thuwaikh visited 74 shops in Sulaibiya, Qairawan and Jahra co-ops and in Jahra industrial area, resulting in closing 14 shops including six mobile phone shops, four carpentries, an automobile office, a military garment outlet, a barbershop and a tailor shop.

Expat engineers
As part of efforts exerted by the manpower authority to fight COVID-19, Director Ahmad Al-Moussa announced coordination with the Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE) over the methodology of accrediting expat engineers' professional evaluation and examinations and conducting them online with the aim of saving time and avoiding the need to visit KSE headquarters and protect engineers. Moussa added that expat engineers will be able to renew their work permits online at www.kseonline.com, adding that the manpower authority spares no effort in operating automated systems to protect all beneficiaries.

Food imports
For the first time in Kuwait, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) issued import licenses for 13 NGOs, allowing them to import foodstuff and other products to help maintain strategic reserves. The licenses prohibit licensees from buying products from local markets. The licensed NGOs include Mercy International, IICO, Direct Aid Organization, Revival of Islamic Heritage Society, Social Reform Society, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity, Al-Najat Charity, Kuwait Society for Relief, KRCS, the Global Charity Association for Development, Al-Salam Society for Charity and Humanitarian Activities, Ruhamaa Baynahum Society and Kuwait Society for Humanitarian Action.