Move to up Kuwaiti-Iraqi ties, set up free trade zone on northern border

Economic panel set to meet

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: In a move aimed at strengthening the KuwaitiIraqi relations and establishing a free trade zone on the northern border, coinciding with the completion of the Mubarak Port, the Council of Ministers has called upon various concerned parties to activate and complete all details related to the implementation of the draft law of the General Warehouses Company and the border crossing points at Abdali, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to reliable sources the Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly will meet tomorrow to discuss the mechanisms and proposals for the completion of this delayed project.

The meeting will be chaired by the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh and attended by representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Finance and Commerce and Industry in addition to personnel from the Kuwait Municipality and the Customs authorities.

The sources pointed out that if the ‘stumbling block’ in the law of the warehouse company is not addressed, the Cabinet will approve a new project upon directives of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak.

Moreover, the Minister of Commerce and Industry will pay a visit to Iraq in March to discuss the issue with the Iraqi authorities and sign an agreement with the government in Baghdad.

The Iraqi authorities have already given preliminary approval for the establishment of the commercial zone during the last visit of the Iraqi president to the country.