PM looking into report to accelerate ‘public-private’ partnership projects

Bid to move execution of Cabinet decision

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 14: The Council of Ministers in a recent meeting chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah looked into a report containing procedures to accelerate the floating and execution of Public Authority for Public-Private Partnership projects, reports Al-Anba daily.

The daily quoting a source noted the step is a move toward the execution of Cabinet’s decision during its meeting last Monday. He explained that Cabinet agreed to mandate the authority to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, Civil Service Commission, and Fatwa and Legislation Department to lay down procedures that will accelerate the execution of partnership projects involving the two sectors.

The decision stipulates that a report stating the outcome should be presented to Cabinet within two weeks, he hinted.

As per amendment to public tenders law, the source indicated there is a conviction that any proposed amendment that serves the best interest of the public will be supported. He stressed the amendment should be constitutional in terms of the conservation of public funds. Also, it must open door to further support for small and medium projects entrepreneurs among youths, he said.

Assistant Secretary General for Culture at the National Council for Culture Arts and letters (NCCAL) Dr Essa Al-Ansari said the council has started the second session of books cataloguing and classification in public libraries as per directives from the Minister of Information and head of NCCAL Muhammad Nasser Al-Jabri with his secretary general Ali Al-Youha.

Supervisor General of Public Libraries at NCCAL Munir Al-Otaibi said the decision involves public libraries in Jaber Al-Ali, Qurain, Ardiya, in addition to Zakaria Al-Ansari Library, and Abdulaziz Al-Sarawi Library. He added 60 thousand books will be distributed among public libraries after the cataloguing and classification process.

He added electronic search will be launched at the library in Jabriya by early next month as part of the automation of public libraries.