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SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017 JAMADA ALTHANI 18, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net 20 Successful bond sale reveals Min 14º Kuwait’s economic strength Max 32º High Tide 02:05 & 14:18 Budget surplus likely Saleh hails state’s strong credit standing Low Tide • 08:27 & 20:52 40 PAGES NO: 17169 150 FILS Amir honors new cadets By Sara Ahmed Maids could outnumber KUWAIT: Kuwait scored big with international investors this week with an estimated four-time oversubscription citizens by 2022: Ashour of its first international bond issue. According to a Bloomberg report, the interest in Kuwait’s bond sale MPs lash out at govt program points to the significant underlying strength in the country’s economic position. Kuwait sold $3.5 billion in By B Izzak provided no details. Domestic helpers five-year bonds and $4.5 billion in 10-year debt on number just under 700,000 at present March 12. Orders for the bonds totaled a massive $29 KUWAIT: Lawmakers lashed out at the while Kuwaiti nationals are 1.35 million. billion, according to bankers quoted by Reuters. government yesterday as they debated Expatriates number 3.1 million. Ashour Kuwait is expected to be the only Gulf state with a its annual development program, charg- added Kuwaitis are fooling themselves budget surplus this year. “IMF figures show the current ing that the plan included repetitive by saying their country is democratic oil price, at about $52 barrel, is more than enough for issues that were never implemented. when there are thousands of court cases the country to balance its budget and current account, The lawmakers also accused the govern- against freedom of expression. unlike its neighbors. Which is why when the OPEC ment of failing to halt widespread cor- Islamist opposition MP Mohammad member raised $8 billion from the sale of five-year and ruption which has been on the rise, Al-Dallal said the problem with the gov- 10-year notes this week, and attracted $29 billion in strongly opposed privatization plans ernment program is that it is a repetition and criticized the government’s failure in of old programs, adding that Kuwaitis bids, it paid less than what Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Saudi creating sufficient jobs for citizens. are capable of developing better pro- Arabia offered last year,” reported Bloomberg. MP Saleh Ashour warned that if the grams. He said that we want the minister Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Anas current growth rate of expatriates con- of development to explain why previous Al-Saleh yesterday said Kuwait’s successful bond tinues, the number of certain communi- programs failed. Dallal said the govern- issuance reflected the country’s strong credit standing. ties like Indians, Egyptians and Filipinos ment’s administration is incapable of “We are delighted with the successful pricing of this will increase sharply to new proportions. delivering, and claimed the “deep state” transaction and the positive response we have received The lawmaker said that based on current and “fat cats” do not want to see Kuwait KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah honors a from international investors. This highlights Kuwait’s growth rates, domestic helpers could progressing. police cadet during a graduation ceremony at the Saad Al-Abdullah Academy strong credit standing amongst its international peers,” outnumber Kuwaiti citizens by 2022. He Continued on Page 13 for Security Sciences yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 3) Saleh told KUNA. Continued on Page 13 LOCAL THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017 Kuwait calls for collaborated Public hospitals to gradually efforts to combat terrorists become exclusive for citizens By A Saleh trained. “In addition, such a step con- ‘Dialogue with Iran based on non-intervention in GCC affairs’ tradicts the state’s policy in treating KUWAIT: The government told MPs them as illegal residents. Therefore, By Faten Omar and agencies that their demand to resolve the they have to legalize their stay, espe- demographic imbalance problem is a cially those who now know for sure KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al- top priority for the Cabinet, informed they have no right to get citizenship,” Jarallah called on the international community sources said. The sources also the sources concluded. to collaborate on implementing a broad strategy explained that demands to restrict to combat the so-called Islamic State (IS) and public hospital services’ to citizens Power bills other terrorist groups. Jarallah made the alone would be done gradually, Minister of Electricity and Water remarks during the opening session of the because private hospitals are currently and Minister of Oil Essam Al-Marzouq Foreign Terrorist Fighters Working Group meet- incapable of absorbing the huge num- stressed that out of the ministry’s ing held yesterday at Sheraton Hotel. “This meet- bers of expats. “The government plans keenness on collecting overdue bills, ing will be an opportunity for coalition partners to start by increasing expat health an agreement has been made with the to discuss ways to further accelerate the cam- service fees and denying them access Interior Ministry to link its services paign against Daesh,” he said, using the Arabic to some services such as MRIs and with the ministry’s system and stop acronym for the terrorist group. endoscopies,” the sources said, adding providing indebted citizens with serv- He affirmed pursuing action at various levels that stopping public hospital services ices unless they pay their power bills. for facing IS, noting the terrorist threats posed for expats would take at least three In a different concern, Marzouq by IS to the region and beyond and identifying years until the private health insur- stressed that he will never approve and laying down the measures that coalition ance hospitals for non-Kuwaitis start dismissing any nationals working in members and the international community operating. the oil sector as they have been ‘broth- should undertake in the fight against Daesh. The sources said the government ers, children and coworkers for long’. Jarallah congratulated Iraq for recapturing would provide lawmakers with plans In response to an inquiry made by MP the eastern half of Mosul from IS. He said devel- to do away with expat administrative Faisal Al-Kandari, Marzouq denied any opments to combat terrorism underscore the employees in various government sec- intention to privatize the petroleum effectiveness of mass confrontation and the tors, but stressed that it would be diffi- labs in Manaqeesh, remarking it is importance of coordination against terrorism. cult to do the same with technical and impossible predict the future. He praised Kuwait’s efforts and its international specialized ones like doctors, teachers role in facing IS, considering that several meet- and nurses. In addition, the source said Cairo Road ings have been held to support the international KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah speaks to reporters on the side- that the government would work on The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) coalition in its campaign to wipe out Daesh. lines of the Foreign Terrorist Fighters Working Group. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat mandating employers to deport expat said that Cairo Road is very vital He assured on the need to improve the laborers as soon as their mission con- because it serves several residential strategic applications that work under this Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister wiping out Arab tensions and differences. “The cludes, as well as ban residency trans- areas. The ministry also stressed that a important group and follow the coalition’s Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah State of Kuwait is still continuing efforts and its fers for those terminated. “Visit visas 4-year project to develop the road will efforts in the face of the damages caused by the from the Iranian authorities. Sheikh Sabah Al- positive role in clearing Arab atmospheres from will be soon controlled once the parlia- start within two months once all flow of foreign fighters into conflict zones and Khaled received a message last Monday any tension or disagreements that undermine ment passes imposing health insur- approvals are given by the Audit find a mechanism for a clear return policy. He addressed to His Highness the Amir from the fraternal Arab relations,” Jarallah indicated. ance fees on visitors,” the sources said. Bureau and a contractor is selected. said the gathering addresses the issue of pre- Iranian president-contents of which have not Finally, the sources stressed that it MPW added that the project would venting fighters leaving and preparing an ade- been officially declared. It was conveyed by the Terror supporters would be impossible to rely on include replacing all traffic lights with quate environment for their return to their coun- Iranian envoy in the country. “We hope to see On the US Department of the Treasury’s list- bedoons to replace expats because flyovers and tunnels to facilitate traf- tries. Moreover, Jarallah said Kuwait has begun halt of any form of meddling in the affairs of the ing of a Kuwaiti citizen on the list of terror sup- they are mostly not specialized or fic flows. implementing a strategy to espouse moderation States of the region,” he reiterated. porters, Jarallah said: “Kuwait is coordinating and stifle extremism. Kuwait remains “vehe- Asked about reported deployment of some with the US in this regard. Thus, this coordina- mently opposed” to all forms and manifestations 1,000 US troops in Kuwait as part of the war tion did not and won’t