Kuwait denies leasing islands to China

Wataniya Airways confirms order for A320 planes

KUWAIT CITY, July 17: Kuwait officially denied reports stating it intends to lease its islands to China for economic projects.

Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid al-Jarallah said in a press statement that the agreements concluded by HH the Amir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, during his visit to China on July 7 have nothing to do with what is being promoted through social media that Kuwait is planning to rent its islands to China or agree on a Chinese presence there.

“The deal with China with regard to the project of Silk City is economic and has nothing to do with the rumors about leasing or (Chinese) presence in the Kuwaiti islands,” asserted Jarallah.

The Deputy Minister explained that China has allocated huge financial resources to support its plans of openness to countries of Africa and South Asia, where Kuwait is located.

He added that Beijing invested about $400 billion in Africa, and part of this amount had been earmarked for investment in South Asia. So its logical for Kuwait to be the top beneficiary of this Chinese trend.

Jarallah concluded that the Emirs vision is for Kuwait to be among the first to benefit from Chinas openness.

Meanwhile, a major aircraft order follows an earlier agreement announced at last year’s Dubai Airshow between Kuwaiti carrier and Airbus Golden Falcon Aviation, the exclusive aircraft provider of Wataniya Airways, on Monday confirmed an order for 25 Airbus A320neo family aircraft.

The order follows an earlier agreement announced at last years Dubai Airshow, a statement from Airbus said.

The firm order was signed during the Farnborough International Airshow by Rakan Al-Tuwaijri, CEO of Golden Falcon Aviation, and Eric Schulz, Airbus chief commercial officer.

Wataniya Airways resumed operations in July 2017 and currently operates a fleet of four A320 family aircraft serving destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia from its home base in Kuwait.

The A320neo family aircraft will support the airlines vision to become the fastest growing and leading airline in the country, the statement added.

With more than 6,100 orders received from over 100 customers, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market.