Third Annual Report

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Third Annual Report THIRD ANNUAL REPORT Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 1 | | 2 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 3 | His Highness The Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah May God protect & Bless him | 4 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 5 | His Highness The Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah | 6 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 7 | His Highness The Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah | 8 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 9 | 41 42 43 14 44 16 45 19 19 19 45 19 50 19 50 19 20 53 56 23 24 59 25 60 67 31 70 32 72 34 76 36 76 36 80 | 10 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority 84 113 84 114 94 97 117 100 117 100 124 124 103 125 125 104 109 110 111 Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 11 | Khaled Nasser Al-Roudan Chairman of the Board of Directors of KDIPA & Minister of Commerce and Industry Ms. Wafa Ahmad Al-Qatami Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of KDIPA Manaf Abdulaziz Al-Hajeri Dr. Adel Easa Al-Yousifi Member of the Board Member of the Board of Directors of KDIPA of Directors of KDIPA Ahmed Abdullah Al-Manfouhi Abdulkarim Taqi Abdulkarim Aseel Al-Saad Al-Munifi Member of the Board Member of the Board Member of the Board of Directors of KDIPA of Directors of KDIPA of Directors of KDIPA | 12 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 13 | Chairman of the Board Message Khaled Nasser Al-Roudhan - Minister of Commerce and Industry I am pleased to present to you the Third Annual Report of Kuwait Direct Investment Promotional Authority (KDIPA), that includes the authority’s achievements in its multifaceted promotional, regulatory, advocacy, and developmental roles carried out during the fiscal year FY 2017/2018, in accordance with its mandate under Law No. 116 of 2013 regarding the Promotion of Direct Investment in the State of Kuwait; in addition to the tasks assigned to it pursuant to the decisions of the Council of Ministers on managing free zone, the offset program, and the allocation of and settlement of advanced technology, and commercial plots in alignment with achieving trickle down to an extended support to the local the objectives of the “National Vision 2035” economy. that also contributes to the implementation of the State of Kuwait’s commitment to achieving In conclusion, on behalf of the Board of the sustainable development goals SDGs Directors, I would like to extend my sincere (2015-2030) incorporating innovation and the thanks to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah knowledge economy. Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who honored us by granting patronage and attending KDIPA’s KDIPA Board of Directors carried out its stated flagship event- Kuwait Investment Forum 2018 responsibilities during the report period in (KIF2018), with the participation of a group of formulating work policies and supervising their senior officials and business leaders, as well as implementation to guide activities executed by to His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf various administrative units to attain the aspired Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness objectives, while adhering to good governance the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak practices, aiming ultimately to improve Kuwait‘s Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. I would also like to also business environment and enhancing its extend my thanks to the members of the Board competitiveness to achieve intended economic of Directors for their commitment and keenness diversification. in providing advice and guidance to promote KDIPA’s economic and developmental goals, The report period witnessed numerous and the Director General of KDIPA and all the achievements that included enhancing staff members for their relentless and steadfast promotional activities, the further improvement efforts to achieve KDIPA’s intended goals and in investors aftercare services and the provision contribute to Kuwait’s promising future. of continuous facilitation. These undertakings in turn lead to an increase in the amount of cumulative approved direct investment into Kuwait to about KD 805.6 million (about USD 2.66 billion) focused in the vital services sector. The economic impact of these investments will be conducive to create more jobs and training opportunities for Kuwaiti nationals, transfer | 14 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 15 | Director General Message Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah I am pleased to share with you the Third Annual Report of Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) for the financial year FY 2017/2018, extended between April 1st, 2017 to 31st March, 2018, showcasing the key achievements KDIPA undertook during KDIPA also pursed its advocacy role in coordinating this period which led to attract approved national efforts to streamline business direct investments in the amount of KD environment and enhancing competitiveness in 98,441,270 million. The cumulative approved Kuwait. Positive developments were recorded direct investments since KDIPA commenced in Kuwait position in the relevant international its operations in early January 2015 until the indicators. Furthermore, KDIPA concluded the end of March 2018, reached about KD 805.6 first phase of the ISO 9001: 2015 certification million focused on the services sector, incoming project. from 16 different countries embodying both developed and emerging economies. The In conclusion, I would like to extend my sincere expected economic impact of these investments thanks and appreciation to His Excellency is extensive encouraging direct and indirect the Chairman of the Board and the Board of job creation for Kuwaiti nationals, at various Directors of KDIPA and all the staff members administrative and technical levels, generating in various administrative units, applauding viable linkages with suppliers and producers’ the efforts exerted, capitalizing on the team networks in the sectors associated with these work spirit to attain the intended objectives to projects. position Kuwait as a prominent location in the global investment map. The third year of KDIPA’s work exhibited the expansion of KDIPA’s promotional activity by focusing on targeting new investors, and identifying priority sectors in line with the directions of the country’s Second Medium- term Development Plan, in order to achieve the economic and social development objectives of the State in line with the National Vision and Kuwait’s commitment to achieve the sustainable development goals. In this regard, KDIPA organized and held its flagship event - Kuwait Investment Forum (KIF2018) - in its second edition under the patronage and with the presence of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. | 16 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority Third Annual Report 2017 / 2018 | 17 | | 18 | Kuwait Direct Investment Public Authority Kuwait Direct Investment Components of KDIPA Strategy: Public Authority 1. Vision Establishment: Foreseeing Kuwait as an added value and KDIPA was established as an independent public innovation based investment hub. body in line with by virtue of Law No. 116 of 2013 regarding the Promotion of Direct Investment in 2. Mission the State of Kuwait, which abolished Law No. Actively contributing to enhance Kuwait’s 8 of 2001 regarding the regulation of direct economic diversification towards fostering investment of foreign capital in Kuwait that sustainability. had established the Kuwait Foreign Investment Bureau as an office within the Ministry 3. Values of Commerce and Industry. • Excellence in service delivery Thus, KDIPA became the legal successor to the • Professionalism bureau and, all its assets, funds, rights and • Transparency obligations were transferred to it. 4. Strategic directions Tasks: KDIPA shall, in accordance with Article (4) of its • Empower KDIPA as a “center of Establishment Law No. 116 of 2013, perform a institutional excellence” to perform its set of tasks which include: mandate efficiently. • Attracting and promoting domestic • Contribute to the local drive for and foreign direct investment. enhancing economic diversification. • Promoting Kuwait as an investment • Attract a larger share of value added location. direct investments. • Presenting value added investment • Build Kuwait Brand as a lucrative opportunities. investment location. • Receiving and issuing investment • Assure best services & aftercare for licenses. investors. • Granting and managing incentives and • Enhance Kuwait competitiveness & guarantees offered to investors. foster a favorable investment climate. • Responding to inquiries and providing • Nurture a learning environment for clarifications and available information developing competencies & skills of to investors. KDIPA’s employees. • Dealing with complaints and handling potential obstacles. KDIPA’s Roles • Coordinating with all concerned government entities to facilitate • Developmental role by contributing to the procedures of doing business and national goal of economic diversification, job enhancing the competitiveness of creation and quality training for nationals, and Kuwait. extending the positive spillover impact for the local economy. In addition to other newly designated tasks assigned to KDIPA in accordance • Developmental role by attracting and with several Council of Ministers encouraging value added and innovation
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