Jordan, Kuwait sign 15 deals in various fields to boost cooperation

AMMAN — Jordan and Kuwait on Monday signed 15 agreements, memoranda of understanding and executive programmes in various fields to enhance cooperation during the fourth round of meetings for the joint Jordanian-Kuwaiti higher committee.

His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, on Monday received Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah, who is heading a high-level delegation of ministers, businesspeople and private sector leaders on a visit to Jordan.

Sheikh Jaber delivered a letter to King Abdullah from Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, which focused on the historical ties between Jordan and Kuwait, as well as keenness to advance them further, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty asked Sheikh Jaber to convey his greetings to Sheikh Sabah, expressing his best wishes to the people and leadership of Kuwait.

The King noted the brotherly ties between the two countries, thanking Kuwait for standing by Jordan.

During a bilateral meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace, which was followed by an expanded one attended by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz and senior officials on both sides, discussions covered opportunities for economic, investment, trade and military cooperation.

His Majesty stressed the importance of the joint committee’s meetings, held in Amman on Monday, noting the agreements resulting from it.

The need to maintain coordination and consultation between Jordan and Kuwait over issues of mutual concern was also stressed.

In addition, discussions covered the international conference hosted by the UK government in cooperation with Jordan in London later this month.

The King said he looks forward to Kuwait’s participation in the conference, as Sheikh Jaber noted that his country will send a high-level delegation to the event and invite the Kuwaiti private sector to participate.

Moreover, the meeting covered the latest regional developments and the need to reach political solutions to crises in the region.

The importance of stepping up efforts to launch Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations based on the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative was also stressed, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The two sides also called for bolstering joint Arab action in service of just Arab causes.

His Majesty commended Kuwait’s efforts to support Arab causes.

For his part, Sheikh Jaber lauded Jordan’s role, led by the King, in seeking security and stability in the region, affirming Kuwait’s support for Jordan and its commitment to advancing cooperation.

The deals were signed between the two countries’ governments during the higher committee’s Monday meetings, chaired by Razzaz and Sheikh Jaber, included a memorandum of understanding on legal and judicial cooperation, a memo between the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development and the King Abdullah II Centre for Excellence (KACE) and a cooperation agreement in the educational sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Both countries also signed an executive programme in the higher education and scientific research, a memorandum in the meteorological field between the Jordan Meteorological Department and the Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation and an executive programme for a cooperation agreement in the tourism sector.

They also signed an executive programme for a memorandum on industrial cooperation, a memo on establishing and administrating an industrial estate, another governing cooperation in the population and civil development and one on cooperation in oil, gas, renewable energy resources and geological sectors. 

The two governments signed another memo in the social affairs sector, a grant agreement of $6 million to establish two elementary schools in Amman, and an amending agreement to reschedule the Kingdom’s debts to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. 

They also signed an executive programme for environment reservation for 2019-2020 and a media cooperation agreement. 

Razzaz and Sheikh Jaber praised the developments in the Jordanian-Kuwaiti relations over the past years, and expressed keenness to open new scopes of cooperation to serve both countries’ interests. 

Razzaz welcomed Sheikh Jaber’s visit to the Kingdom, stressing that holding the fourth meeting of the joint Jordanian-Kuwaiti higher committee is “clear evidence of the deep-rooted” ties.

The prime minister also said that Kuwaiti investments in Jordan are among the highest, which reflects the close cooperation and historic relations between the two countries.

He added that the agreements both countries signed on Monday would contribute to enhancing economic and trade relations and realising benefits for both countries and peoples.

Sheikh Jaber expressed his pride in the level of brotherly ties between the two countries and keenness to further enhance them in all fields.

The Kuwaiti premier also voiced his country’s full support to Jordan as it works to overcome difficult conditions, expressing confidence that the Kingdom, thanks to its leadership, will be able to surmount this phase. 

He also expressed his pride in Kuwait’s ranking as the first among Arab countries and the second at the international level in terms of the investment volume in the Kingdom, which stands at some $18 billion, voicing Kuwait’s keenness to increase investments so as to help Jordan enhance its economy and create more jobs. 

Also on Monday, the Kuwaiti prime minister inaugurated the new headquarters of the Kuwaiti embassy in Amman, in the presence Razzaz and a number of Arab ambassadors and diplomats.

The Kuwaiti premier hailed the Kuwaiti embassy’s efforts to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries and its role in taking care of Kuwaiti citizens or visitors’ interests.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri on Monday said that the Jordanian and Kuwaiti governments are ready to facilitate and overcome obstacles that hinder increasing cooperation between the two countries private sectors.

Hammouri made his remarks during the Jordanian-Kuwaiti economic meeting organised by Jordan chambers of commerce and industry, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

He added that the two countries are counting on the private sectors of both countries to implement realistic initiatives and projects implemented to promote economic cooperation and increase trade exchange.

The minister noted that Kuwaiti companies and investors can benefit from the incentives and advantages Jordan provides through the trade agreements signed with many countries, pointing out that the industrial and commercial sectors had the lion’s share of the cooperation protocols signed between the two countries earlier in the day.