SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 THULQADA 9, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net UN’s OCHA Argentina beat marks World Germany 4-2 Humanitarian in World Cup Day in 2Kuwait final20 rematch Kuwait drops 4 spots in Max 48º Min 27º global competitiveness High Tide 05:14 & 20:23 State ranks lowest in FDA, IT, highest in controlling inflation, HIV Low Tide 13:14 40 PAGES NO: 16275 150 FILS By Sara Ahmed conspiracy theories KUWAIT: Kuwait dropped four spots on the World Congratulations Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Ranking for 2014-2015. Falling from 36 to 40 this year, Kuwait’s eval- to the nation uation highlighted problems with inefficient govern- ment bureaucracy, restrictive labor regulations, corrup- tion, access to financing and policy instability as among the top issues inhibiting the state’s global economic competitiveness. Kuwait recorded among the worst rankings in the By Badrya Darwish Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, falling far below the UAE (ranked 12), Qatar (16) and Saudi Arabia (24). It is listed as a transition economy. Other economies in transition on the global list include the Philippines (52), Algeria (79), Iran (83), Mongolia (98) and Bhutan (103). [email protected] The annual report evaluates nations using more than 100 indicators of competitiveness based on 12 pillars including institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic osh, guys! I’m so overwhelmed and thrilled by environment, health and primary education, higher edu- the ranking of my country in the World cation and training, goods market efficiency, labor mar- GEconomic Forum’s Global Competiveness Report ket efficiency, financial market development, technolog- 2014. I was just mentioning yesterday in an article ical readiness, market size, business sophistication and about the fact that Kuwait is among the world’s top 10 innovation. Specific indicators cover the range of factors in diabetes. And today to cream the cake, we received impacting an economy’s ability to compete at the global the detailed report about all aspects of life in Kuwait. level and include such indicators as government bureau- The WEF Global Competiveness Report ranks, in sim- cracy, corruption, labor regulations, access to financing, ple mathematics, the best and brightest among the human resources and others. world’s nations in most fields such as foreign invest- Out of 144 countries, Kuwait ranked 135 in burden of ment, innovation, health, education, policy and regula- FNAYDEK, Lebanon: Sunni Lebanese mourners raise up their hands and weapons as others carry the coffin government regulation; transparency of government tion of governments, etc, etc, etc. of Sgt Ali Sayid who was beheaded by Islamic State militants during his funeral procession in his hometown policy making (103); quality of primary education (104); Continued on Page 13 in Akkar, north Lebanon yesterday. —AP Continued on Page 13 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 LOCAL IICO translates Kuwait’s message KUWAIT: The International Islamic Charity Organization has translated Kuwait’s humanitarian message in extending a helping hand to impover- ished people around the world. The Kuwait-based charity’s work stems from the teachings of the Islamic faith and the generosity the people of Kuwait are known for. The United Nations ceremony of His Highness the Amir on September 9 as a ‘humanitarian leader’ and Kuwait as an international humanitarian hub is the result of many years of extensive efforts the country has pursued under the instructions of HH the Amir. The International Islamic Charity Organization has been one of the organs that has contributed to these efforts. After two donor conferences for the displaced KUWAIT: Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq speaks during the event. — Photos by Joseph Shagra Mubashar Sheikh addresses the attendants. inside and out of Syria which helped raise USD 3.5 billion, some of the pledges made by Kuwait were carried out through projects, some of which were assumed by IICO. OCHA marks World Humanitarian Day The Kuwait Model Village in Turkey, a camp for displaced Syrians was constructed under the super- vision of IICO, consisting 1,000 homes, four schools, ‘Amir honoring recognition to Kuwait humanitarian track record’ two mosques and two clinics, with two similar proj- By Nawara Fattahova ple,” he pointed out. Kuwait has come a long way under the leadership of HH ects carried out in Jordan. An estimated 108 million people are in need of the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Following the success of the two international KUWAIT: The United Nations Office of the Coordination humanitarian assistance around the world. “We, in the The recognition the Amir of Kuwait will receive by the conferences, which had been accompanied by non- of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) celebrated World Arab region, have witnessed a horrifying increase in the UN Secretary General on the 9th of September in New government fund-raisers, Kuwait then proceeded to Humanitarian Day (WHD) at its premises yesterday. The numbers of Syrians displaced by the machinery of York is well deserved for his humanitarian role, generos- hold another meeting of donors under the chair- goal of the event is to raise awareness on humanitarian death and destruction. The number of victims of the ity and leadership. As an example, during 2013 and manship of UN Secretary General envoy for humani- workers around the world in addition to engaging the Syrian crisis alone has soared to 9.5 million IDPs and 2014, Kuwait has donated over $650 million to humani- tarian affairs, Amiri Diwan advisor and IICO chief local community in the WHD campaign. This celebration refugees, according to UN estimates, in addition to the tarian crises around the world,” he said. Abdullah Al-Matouq. — KUNA also aims to build a local movement to support a world hundreds of thousands who have been killed or gone “Eleven years ago, a bomb attack on the UN head- event. missing,” said Maatouq. quarters in Bagdad caused the loss of 22 lives from Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq, UN Secretary General’s “Aid workers continue to provide humanitarian serv- NGOs and UN agencies in the line of duty, which show- Humanitarian Envoy, consultant of HH the Amir and ices, undaunted by the risks and challenges, but unfor- cases the risks humanitarian workers face. In 2008, the Chairman of the International Islamic Charitable tunately, some of these courageous individuals are UN General assembly marked August 19 to be World Organization, noted that the world celebrates this day falling on a daily basis. In 2013, 155 humanitarian work- Humanitarian Day and celebrate humanitarians around to remember those whose honorable humanitarian ers were killed, 171 activists were seriously wounded, the world. The slogan campaign for 2014 is “The World positions become evident when humanitarian anguish and 134 others were kidnapped, according to statistics,” Needs More Humanitarian Heroes”, which recognizes intensifies; conflicts and wars rage; storms and disasters he noted. “More recently, UNRWA lost 12 of its employ- the efforts and stories of those working in the field,” break out; blood becomes cheap; destruction and sabo- ees in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli aggression, and stated Mubashar. tage become commonplace; displacement becomes a many medical and civil defense teams were targeted as “The world is currently witnessing a critical time with global phenomenon and humanitarian crises become they tried to rescue the wounded and evacuate the four major humanitarian crises (Iraq, CAR, Syria and uncontainable. bodies of the victims. Hundreds of them have been South Sudan) and some forgotten crises like Yemen, “We are in this international humanitarian forum to killed by the perfidious Israeli bombardment,” he Palestine and Myanmar. In 2014 alone, 155 humanitari- register the noble and honorable humanitarian posi- explained. an workers were killed performing their duties, and tions of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber “As the number of disasters increases, the world hundreds were injured or kidnapped. The safety and Al Sabah, and express to His Highness our highest and needs more heroes in the field of humanitarian action, security of humanitarians is deteriorating and constant- warmest appreciation and gratitude for the strong sup- and while it is the duty of the international community ly making them a target,” he concluded. port he lends to the efforts of international humanitari- to provide them with all forms of protection and securi- KUWAIT: Kuwaiti aid at the Za’atari Camp for an organizations and UN humanitarian agencies. It ty, the parties to the conflict must respect the neutrality Syrian refugees in Jordan.— KUNA gives us even more honor and pride to congratulate His of humanitarian action and help humanitarian workers Highness on the United Nations’ intention to name him to carry out their humanitarian duty,” he stated. “global humanitarian leader” in a few days and desig- nate Kuwait, the state of goodness and giving, as a Alleviating the suffering “global humanitarian center,” he added. Kuwait appreciates humanitarian work. “We respect This step comes in recognition of Kuwait’s humani- humanitarian workers around the world, and extend tarian track record, which is full of humanitarian and our hands to engage all international humanitarian development conferences and summits. “These have organizations in their projects in order to alleviate the mobilized regional and international efforts to assist the suffering of those affected by disaster - especially since poor and distressed everywhere; and in honor of HH the the people of Kuwait have grown accustomed to do Amir who spared no effort to launch humanitarian ini- good deeds and help others. They inherited these noble tiatives to address the repercussions of floods in human values from their ancestors and passed them Pakistan; earthquakes in Turkey, the Philippines and down from one generation to the next, although the Indonesia; desertification, drought and famine in people of Kuwait had limited financial resources,” con- Mauritania, Somalia, Benin and Niger; the conflict in cluded Maatouq.