‘Need for industrial integration’

‘Kuwait can play vital role’

“THROUGHOUT the past 39 years, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have endorsed several agreements for economic integration among the member states,” columnist Sattam Ahmad Al-Jarallah wrote for Al-Seyassah daily.

“During the recent crisis the implementation of these agreements has become a necessity, particularly in the area of industrial and food integration and this means the GCC member states must work in the area of selfsufficiency and show its steadfastness and ability to face the changes which currently prevail in the world.

“As a matter of fact, the GCC has a lot of potentials and these potentials can be used to not depend on foreign states because the GCC countries are not just an oil well as some people believe, rather prior to the discovery of oil the people of the region have surmounted the difficulties of life, be it at the agricultural level or preliminary industries.

“From the agricultural point of view, the Gulf states were depending on themselves, in terms of minimum level of self-sufficiency, namely the basic commodities since what the people consumed during those days is different from what they consume today. Hence, the peoples of these states during that time boldly faced the difficulties of life and life went on unperturbed.

“Today, the GCC member states can fully depend on industrial integration, where the State of Kuwait, for example, can produce a group of commodities and the same is applicable to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where each commodity can play its role towards integrated production just like the European Airbus. The parts are manufactured in one European state and the plane gets assembled in the plant of the mother company. The above is applicable to the mobiles phone industry.

“The United States of America, for example, during the recent crisis was striving to produce the above locally to activate its economy and reduce the rate of unemployment.

“But the spread of the corona pandemic put brakes on the American effort or rather forced the postponement indefinitely but the plans are still in the pipeline and this means the US will be able to go put behind the economic crisis after a specific time. But the question is, will we in the Gulf region be in a position to follow the US example?

“Yes, we will be able to do so, because we GCC states have the potentials if we agree to work as a team and distribute industries among us.

“Take for example, the medical supplies industry. Kuwait has the base and can produce these supplies.

“Looking at the UAE, we know the Emirates offers a big base for convertible industries, while the productive base is in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a very big one and this can be integrated with other GCC member states and this can enhance our dependence on Gulf industries and which means we can minimize our imports from abroad significantly and activate trade among member states.

“Anyway, achieving the above requires among other things unification of prices and the cost as well and this entails, for instance, the endorsement of a unified currency.

“Take for example, the Arab states depend on the socalled ‘Arab dinar’ which is the ‘theatrical currency’ of these states and as such the Gulf states can consider this as ‘exchange’ currency until an agreement is endorsed for the unified GCC currency.

“The above will save a lot and eventually enhance productivity and economic stability in the Gulf, but it is needless to say this requires a serious decision and swift implementation.”

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Al-Jarallah

“Many legitimate questions have been circulating among the public and specialists which revolve around and the West inevitably in shock or is the new world order testing its ability to control the peoples of the earth, having managed to blend cultures and unite them even in clothing?” columnist Fakhri Hashem Al-Sayed Rajab wrote for Al-Qabas daily.

“However, either ‘corona’ is a capitalist conspiracy to reap its profits from crises or it is a virus, carried by a stray bat, the most important thing is what is next.

“The most important thing is to be aware of what is happening, and realize the causes of deliberate misinformation, because something is happening and it is the most dangerous thing, although the danger to humans is still flourishing and very much there.

“We say the above, but the consensus is that it will end in a period not long, but the worst is coming; yes, the economic war will extend to Europe, China, Russia, Iran, and the rest of the countries and what is their position in the new equation?

“The decline in the price of oil has been directed at Russia and Iran and we know that Trump gave orders to buy when the price is low and began storing it, as usual, America keeps its huge reserves and buys from abroad. The virus has cost China enormously and the same goes with Europe as well.

“As for Russia, it has all the capabilities to confront and withstand at a time when the Middle Eastern world suffices to raise the morale of its people and implement the embargo as all the countries of the world, while the race is underway, to announce who will ‘drink’ before it occurs, and I do not rule out this time that it axe will fall on the head of World Health Organization (WHO).

“Anyway, in this connection, we say there must be many differences of opinion, and many may reject the conspiracy theory, and exclude it because the superpower unexpectedly is currently a victim of the corona virus.

“But in investment reality in ‘corona virus’ shows major changes are in the offing, such as the dismantling of the European-Chinese partnership and I mean companies in European-Greater China) and sever the Silk Road project by striking Iran and other things.

“However, the most important thing for us is to see that the conspiracy in question does not make the oil sector bankrupt, particularly since we know that the corona virus was ‘invented’ to affect humans because this virus is not been carried by stray bat and such all of us are currently facing the battle.

“In this connection, we would like to pinpoint that disasters throughout history was the big detector in discovering the structure of each person and his nature, hence, we wonder, what is next as we wait and watch.”

“The government has an extremely strange attitude towards visa traders. On one hand, it declares and recognizes that there are visa traders, and on the other hand, it punishes only the workers. The government is silent about criminals who form the basis of the problem in order to accumulate forbidden money by tarnishing the country’s reputation on the humanity level. This is happening at a time the world from far and near witnesses that this is the country of humanity, thanks to God and the endeavors of His Highness the Amir, may God protect him,” Saud Al-Samakah wrote for Al-Seyassah daily.

“It is indeed odd how the government acts regarding this crime, because the perpetrators indulge in the act openly and the government does not take even most basic steps against them. This gives people the impression that the government is not serious about addressing this issue!

“Rather, the talk in the local scene today is that the government is about to give workers, who violated the Residency Law, a travel ticket and KD600. This is a clear and glaring governmental cover for these criminal merchants who are behind this forbidden trade – legally, spiritually and ethically.

“The country is facing this pandemic, which requires exceptional measures in its seriousness, severe impact and decisive speed. It should not stand before this issue, which has become an essential and main part in the escalation and expansion of this epidemic in terms of public health, and at the expense of the State’s ability, in terms of what is available from services to confront such as food and medicines.

“Without a doubt, this is a lenient stance with a criminal who perpetrated this crime. The problem of bulk employment has a negative impact on their lives. It will be reflected in their souls day after day, and fear for the next will heighten if this issue continues without a solution. Such a huge number of workers remain jobless, which will force the State to feed and treat them at a time its people should be the priority for welfare, while the government remains in its place and is lenient towards the criminal!

“Today, we are facing a downturn and the matter is enormous. It is not possible for the political compliments that some countries have interpreted as being weak and arrogant to Kuwait. Therefore, the government must face this condescending view from some countries with the necessary firmness in defense of the country’s sovereignty and dignity of its people. This will make every regime that sees itself as ‘a lion’ against others to realize the fact that it is not more than a wing of mosquito in front of God Almighty, and then the international community’s system. They should exhort the regime of the criminal Saddam Hussein when the devil adorned him as ‘the lion of his time.’ What happened to him then?”

“All roads lead to corona, to the point that our daily lives, government and the people, have become ‘coronanized’ as if we’re to go around the same place. It is affirmed that Kuwait is almost bound to establish a new era other than the one we were living in before the outbreak of this pandemic,” columnist Bassam Al-Asousi wrote for Al-Qabas daily.

“Undoubtedly, this pandemic has exposed the crime of visa trade in the country, which has tarnished the civilized and humanitarian face of Kuwait. Indeed, this issue has been a matter of discussion and deliberation at all levels, but it does not stop us from repeating it over and over again according to the adage: ‘if you don’t succeed at first, try, try and try again’.

“I do not know how long this issue has been under our feet, as it keeps on surfacing from time to time and persists to blossom, posing danger to national security internally and externally. It became a time bomb which, if explodes, will blow us all. We humbly ask if this crime continues to exist based on slackness, stupidity or absence of conscience? Personally, I do not know and I will not delve into the details a lot as demons are hovering around it, but in this case, we are all guilty.

“O people, the elephant in the closet has become huge and bringing down the house. It took corona to realize the size of this issue. It is a huge dilemma of which we have been hearing from time to time that concerned authorities are trying to address from a comfortable distance but it is the time to bring the elephant out of the closet and expose those responsible for the human trafficking racket, whether old and young, male and female, noble and commoner. All should be held accountable through the justice system.

“Concerned ministries have all files containing information and data related to those behind this crime against humanity and reputation of the global humanitarian capital.

“In all, anti-corruption authority is required to take advantage of this popular support in its fight against visa trading. This is a homeland issue with political, social, security, health and humanitarian implications if it’s not dealt with today. It is enough that several reports have ranked Kuwait among the worst in terms of human trafficking.”

“The international situation caused by the coronavirus is unfortunate. It has turned into the Corona Olympics, especially after the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics,” columnist Professor Dr Ghanim Al-Najjar wrote for Al-Jarida daily.

“International coordination on one of the biggest international crises in history has turned into a competition. Each country declares that it is progressing, managing or succeeding in so and so control, while some countries are concealing numbers to show they are more efficient.

“In previous crises smaller than the current corona crisis, the world called for participation and cooperation among states that are scientifically and financially able to lead efforts. Now, coordination between scientists and non-governmental organizations, and among countries, is weak or even very weak.

“Sooner or later, this nightmare will leave in whole or in part, because the nightmare of the invasion took seven months, although it was not biological, but paranoia and psychological situation.

“The most important aspects are the size of losses, innocent victims who will leave, impact of lessons and preparations for what will happen. The last epidemic is certain, it may be more severe and faster.

“If we are here to learn lessons, our preparation for the next pandemic will be faster and more efficient. Note that ‘corona’ is an emerging virus. It is not only the seventh son of the corona family. It is possible that this family will produce more virulent children.”

“Without a doubt, the efforts exerted by the government – represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – in the evacuation of citizens stranded abroad are great and worthy of praise because they come in light of the complicated situation and during the global pandemic that has not exempted any country from its consequences,” columnist Abdulrahman Al-Awwad wrote for AlSabah daily .

“In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the platform ‘Maakam’ (We are with You), in cooperation with the Central Agency for Information Technology, to arrange the return of Kuwaitis who are abroad. In an official statement, the ministry urged all Kuwaitis wishing to return home to immediately register their data on this electronic platform.

“This sincere and elaborate work indicates good management in the ministry by young and intelligent Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nasser, who works day and night with his team in cooperation with other ministers and responsible groups.

“It is heartening that our people, who are trapped abroad, are happier than others. It makes us more satisfied with the government’s interest in our citizens, not forgetting them in the midst of the exceptional circumstances in the country.”

– Compiled by Zaki Taleb