ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 LOCAL 5 ‘Allowing the matter to linger further could jeopardize any potential for progress’ India must help revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace process: Kuwait FM KUWAIT CITY, March 21: During despair in the region and among the Commission (JMC) was formed at the Dr Al-Sabah lauded India for stand- the visit of Sheikh (Dr.) Ahmed Nasser Palestinians. We are with the peace level of Foreign Ministers to strength- ing by Kuwait in its “darkest moments Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s process and the potential of reviving en further the relationship between and in our direst time”, including the Foreign Minister and Minister of State the peace process is very important to both countries. The JMC will act as an provision of medical assistance during for Cabinet Affairs to India at the invi- bring back hope for all those affected,” umbrella for all bilateral institutional the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic tation of India’s External Affairs Dr Nasser added. engagements such as Foreign Office last year. He singled out the “white Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar both sides Dr Al-Sabah described the Abraham Consultations and Joint Working army of Indian nationals” – or nurses reviewed all aspects of India-Kuwait Accords signed by Israel and Gulf Groups. Apart from the existing Joint and doctors – who were combating bilateral relationship and discussed Cooperation Council (GCC) members Working Groups on hydrocarbons, Covid-19 alongside Kuwaitis. regional developments. They also such as Bahrain and the United Arab manpower and mobility, and health- “Even when there was a total lock- explored ways and means to impart Emirates (UAE) as sovereign deci- care, new JWGs on trade and invest- down in India, the Indian leadership further dynamism in the traditional sions by countries regarding the con- ments, defence and security etc are sent medical assistance to Kuwait and and friendly ties between the two duct of foreign relations. envisaged to be established. deployed a medical rapid response countries, according the Hindustan “Having said that, we think that the Both ministers also reviewed the lat- team to Kuwait last April to help in Times of India. peace process is very important, we est regional and international develop- testing and treating infected people. Both ministers also reviewed the lat- think that now it is the opportune time ments, and agreed to coordinate closely The 15-member team was sent at the est regional and international develop- to revive the peace process between on issues of mutual interest in multilat- request of the Kuwait government and ments, and agreed to coordinate closely the Palestinians and the Israelis. We eral forums. The two sides will also and this was very much appreciated,” on issues of mutual interest in multilat- think that if we leave the peace process jointly celebrate the 60th anniversary of he said. eral forums. The two sides will also India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar with Sheikh Dr Ahmed to linger even further it might jeopar- establishment of diplomatic relations In the meantime, India is eyeing jointly celebrate the 60th anniversary of Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and Minister of dize any potential for it to see the light between them during 2021-22. further strengthening and deepening establishment of diplomatic relations State for Cabinet Affairs and accompanying delegation. of day,” he added. Dr. Nasser took the opportunity to ties in sectors such as energy, trade, between them during 2021-22. The talks between Dr Nasser and his thank the Government of India for healthcare, defence and security, sci- Dr. Nasser also handed over a letter Palestinian-Israeli peace process, and Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah has said. Indian counterpart mainly focused on supplying Kuwait with 200,000 doses ence and technology, IT, cybersecuri- from Kuwait’s Prime Minister HH added, Kuwait looks to India and the “And it (the Palestinian issue) needs institutionalizing the wide-ranging of ‘Made in India’ Covishield vaccines ty, culture, education and tourism Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad world community to help revive the the understanding and the support of cooperation between Kuwait and India in February 2021. Dr Jaishankar while at the same time calling for Al-Sabah addressed to Prime Minister peace process between Palestinians the whole international community, and creating a framework to help both expressed India’s continued support to Affairs Minister invited more invest- Narendra Modi. and Israelis as allowing the matter to including India. We think that this sides move forward in an objective the State of Kuwait in its fight against ments from Kuwait into India in During an interaction with a small linger further could jeopardize any issue has taken a long time and has manner in areas such as food security, Covid-19 pandemic. Both sides diverse sectors including energy, group of reporters, Dr Nasser said potential for progress, Kuwaiti Foreign produced a lot of bloodshed, violence energy, trade and investment. emphasized the need to enhance coop- infrastructure, food security, health- India should help revive the Minister Ahmed Nasser and tragedy, but most importantly, During the visit a Joint Ministerial eration in the area of health security. care and education. Cabinet’s committee urged to expedite industrial sector help ‘Accelerate pace of issuing entry visas, work permits’ KUWAIT CITY, March rent period, given the cur- workers who are necessary to nical workers and their inability to 21: High-level sources from rent conditions that facto- operate machinery and equipment return to Kuwait. Also, some factories in these factories. are not able to fulfill their obligations the industrial sector have ries are exposed to due to The sources explained that the slow- with government contracts and proj- called on the General their inability to recruit the down and delay in issuing entry visas ects, which have been in motion since required technical work- to industrial experts and technical the beginning of the COVID-19 pan- Secretariat of Cabinet’s workers needed by the factories have demic. COVID-19 emergency ers, reports Al-Anba daily. been causing great harm to the indus- Despite the attempts of the Public ministerial committee, In exclusive statements to the trial sector and in turn to the economy Authority for Manpower (PAM) to daily, the sources stressed that the of Kuwait. Therefore, it has become find solutions to this issue by opening which is responsible for slow pace of the committee’s work necessary to accelerate the pace of the door for transferring workers from approving the recruitment has caused major administrative issuing the entry visas and work per- one sector to another, these attempts of specialized technical and operational challenges for all mits more than before in order to avoid failed. This is because the market in local factories in the country, indi- the damages and problems that local Kuwait lacks a basis for specialized The Guest Show poster workers and issuing their factories are exposed to. technical workers. The workers who entry visas, about the need cating that this threatens the future The production lines in a number of were allowed to transfer were mostly and continuity of many of these factories have become threatened with involved in marginal employment that to accelerate the pace of factories, especially in light of the complete shutdown after the departure does not have a fundamental role in ‘Man on a mission’ their work during the cur- difficulty in recruiting technical of a large number of specialized tech- the local industrial sector. ‘The Guest Show’ welcomes Coalition intercepts drones south of Saudi HE Ambassador Sibi George Kuwait condemns Houthis’ criminal attack on Saudi oil refinery ext Thursday, The Guest Ambassador of India to KUWAIT CITY, March 21, (KUNA): NShow on Radio Kuwait wel- Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry on Friday comes its first male guest - HE the Holy See. deplored in the strongest terms the Sibi George, Ambassador of Ambassador Sibi George is a Houthi militias’ criminal assault with India. Ambassador Sibi George man on a mission. He took charge booby-trapped drones on oil refinery is a career diplomat who received at a tough time when the pandemic in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. the S K Singh Award for was raging, and thousands of In a statement, the Ministry said Excellence In Indian Foreign Indians were leaving Kuwait. He repeating and escalating those “terror- Service while serving as Deputy has been on an overdrive since ist” acts as well as the targeting of Chief of Mission in Riyadh. The with his active outreach both with civilians, and civil and vital areas are the community and the locals. On not only a threat to the security of the Middle East is close to the The Guest Show, he chats with Ambassador’s heart. One reason sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chaitali B. Roy about his journey the region’s stability, but also a direct for this is his several postings in as a diplomat, the challenges of his threat to energy supplies and the glob- the region. He began his diplo- early days in Kuwait, the reforms al economy. matic career in Cairo, and served and initiatives he is undertaking to In addition, these acts are a direct in Qatar, Pakistan, Iran and streamline services and the critical challenge to international and humani- Saudi Arabia. His postings also collaboration between Kuwait and tarian laws that require a broader inter- include Washington DC. Before India in their fight against national condemnation and must be Kuwait, HE Sibi George was Coronavirus. halted, it added. The statement stressed that the State of Kuwait is fully standing with, and supporting of, Saudi Arabia in all mea- Kuwait insurance division issues sures taken to maintain its security, stability and sovereignty.