Kuwait continues efforts to support Africa development
NEW YORK: Kuwait affirmed it will continue efforts to achieve peace and stability in Africa, as part of having an observer membership since 2012 in the African Union (AU). The remarks were made by Kuwait’s Second Secretary Abdullah Al-Rasheedi, during a discussion on the new partnership on development in Africa; part of the UN General Assembly’s meetings late Tuesday. He applauded the developments in the partnership, as mentioned in the report of UN Secretary General, especially launching the African free trade zone in July this year. The free trade zone will boost the continent’s economy and commerce, said Rasheedi, adding that foreign investments also saw a rise in Africa recently. Meanwhile, he affirmed Kuwait’s commitment to support joint efforts between the UN and the African Union to achieve the AU’s development plan ‘AGENDA 2063’ and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Rasheedi also hailed the efforts of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) agency to speed up the execution of key projects to achieve the 2063 vision. He noted Kuwait’s prominent role in supporting the African continent through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), adding that the Fund is cooperating with over 52 African countries. KFAED’s support includes construction and infrastructure, with a total of about $10 billion. Moreover, the diplomat said that Kuwait shares strong ties with AU countries, noting that the country had hosted the 3rd Arab-African Summit in 2013 under the theme ‘partners in development and investment.’ He pointed to the initiative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during the summit to provide easy loans worth $1 billion to African states.
Rasheedi also said that Kuwait announced investing $1 billion in infrastructure in Africa, under the supervision of the NEPAD. Also, as part of Kuwait’s support, His Highness the Amir launched an annual cash prize to support research on development in the fields of food, health and education in the continent. The prize is worth $1 million under the name ‘Al-Sumait Prize for African Development,’ aiming to encourage economic, social and human resources development. The Kuwaiti diplomat underlined the need to end conflicts in Africa as a vital step towards achieving stability and sustainable development. In this matter, he called for implementing the ‘Silencing the Guns 2020’ initiative to bring peace to the continent.