KFAED and Ivory Coast, Malawi sign loan agreements to finance projects
Projects aim to support economic, water network Kuwaiti female artists partake in cultural week
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Dec 10, (KUNA): Ivory Coast and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Sunday have signed a loan agreement whereby the Fund will provide a loan of KD nine million ($30.6 million) to finance an environmental project.
The loan agreement was signed by Ivory Coast’s Minister of Finance Adama Kone and and KFAED’s Director-General Abdulwahab AlBader on the sidelines of the 2018 Africa Conference.
The project aims to support economic and social development in the Gulf of Kokodi in particular by improving the environmental and health conditions of the population of that region.
This is done through a comprehensive multispectral project including interventions in the field of wastewater treatment and transport, among other measures to restore the saline water characteristics of the Iberian lake in the Abidjan area, particularly in the project area.
The project consists of civil, electrical and mechanical works for hydraulic installations, landscaping, sewage treatment facilities, rainwater drainage and road infrastructure. The loan is for a period of 25 years, including a grace period of six years. The loan is repayable in 38 installments. The loan represents KFAED’s seventh to the Republic of Ivory Coast, where the past six loans financed projects in the transport, agriculture, drinking water, electricity and vocational training sectors with a total value of KD 31.076 million.
KFAED is a Kuwaiti public institution that relies entirely on its own resources in providing loans and other development assistance.
Meanwhile, A loan agreement between Malawi and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) was signed Sunday in Sharm El-Sheikh, to help finance expansion of drinking water network in Mangochi city, totaling KD five million (equivalent of $17 million).
The signing ceremony took place on the sideline of the Africa 2018 Forum. The agreement was signed by Malawi Ambassador to Egypt Caroline Bwanali Mussa and KFAED chief Abdulwahab Al-Bader.
The project aims to meet the growing demand for drinking water, protect public health, utilize natural resources efficiently, and reduce waste by establishing a water treatment plant and water transmission and distribution networks in the city to serve the population of about 50,000 people and is expected to increase to 93,000 by 2036.
The total cost of the project is estimated at KD 6.3 million. The government of Malawi will cover the remaining cost.
This is KFAED’s eighth loan to the Republic of Malawi. The past seven loans financed projects in the telecommunications and transport sectors with a total value of KD 24.520 million (equivalent to $83.368 million). KUWAIT CITY, Dec 10, (KUNA): Kuwait’s attorney general has called for strict guidelines to ensure that children are adequately protected from the potential dangers associated with social media.
Chief among the new guidelines is introducing age restrictions requiring social media users to be at least 13 years of age, the Kuwaiti justice ministry cited Dharar Al-Asousi as saying in a statement on Monday.
It strictly prohibited the commercial exploitation of children on social media websites, with the exception of “positive advertisements” for products that usually bear the likeness of kids.
Examples of positive adverts usually deal with philanthropic deeds, healthcare and education, all of which leave a lasting impression on the lives of children, the statement clarified.
Any material deemed as an invasion of privacy or an intrusion into the personal lives of children is not allowed, in addition to the exploitation of children for financial gain, it added. Top: Kuwaiti artists Manal Al-Shuraian and (above) Riham Al-Rughaib pose respectively with one of their paintings at the exhibition in Italy.
Kuwaiti female artists expressed their happiness on participating in the Kuwaiti cultural week in Italy to present their work of art on an international level.
In a statement to KUNA on Monday, the artists agreed that taking part in such event is a great experience for Kuwaiti women and art.
Riham Al-Rughaib said it is an honor to present her work in Rome and Florence, the cities of art and culture throughout the ages.
She noted that she is participating with 10 portraits representing Kuwait’s culture and history.
Meanwhile, artist Manal Al-Shuraian said her work includes artistic designs using Arabic letters and handwriting, aiming to showcase the Arab and Gulf culture to Europe. She added that the portraits are drawn using colors similar to that of the Arabian soil and desert environment shades.
The artists took part in a fair titled “Kuwaiti Women Artists”, held in the Egyptian Academy of Fine Arts and organized by Kuwait Embassy in Rome. The event aims at shedding light on the role of Kuwaiti women in the artistic and cultural field.