On May 15-16, 2016, the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine consisting of co-chairpersons of the parliamentary group on interparliamentary relations with the State of Kuwait/people's deputies A.Artemenko and V.Patskan was an official visit to Kuwait. This is the second in the history of bilateral relations visit of Ukrainian parliamentarians to Kuwait (the first one was in February 2009).
Among the events carried out by the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation during the visit should be noted meetings with the head of the parliamentary group on interparliamentary relations with Ukraine in the National Assembly of Kuwait HE Faisal Al-Shaya and its members. During the meeting they discussed a broad range of issues of bilateral cooperation in the energy, military and technical, agricultural, investment, tourism and medical spheres.
The Kuwaiti side showed interest in the Ukrainian legislation on the protection of foreign investors in Ukraine. Special attention was focused on the mechanisms of intensification of interparliamentary cooperation. The sides also discussed the possibility of organizing a visit of the delegation of the Kuwaiti parliament to Ukraine in the nearest future.
During the meeting with Assistant Foreign Minister of Kuwait for Europe issues HE Ali Al-Khubeizi, the sides pointed to the importance of opening a direct flight between Kyiv and Kuwait. The Kuwaiti diplomat was informed of the outcome of the visit. On his part, Ali Al-Khubeizi pointed to the importance of development of the trade and economic cooperation, which is aimed to be the basis for bilateral relations. He recommended establishing ties with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), including by its Director General Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, and proposed establishing cooperation with the Kuwaiti construction corporation Al-Ghanem Group, which works with Russian companies and has experience of cooperation with companies from other CIS member states.
Ukrainian lawmakers also held a meeting with the executive director of the leading financial-industrial group Al-Sayer Group. During the meeting they discussed development of trade and economic cooperation between economic entities of both countries, the possibility of supply of petroleum products to Ukraine and prospects of participation of Kuwaiti parties in investment projects in our country. Ukrainian delegation’s representative handed over to the Kuwaiti side the relevant presentation and information materials.
With the assistance of the Embassy they also organized a meeting with the leadership of Kuwaiti holding company Al-Arabi Holding Group, which unites a group of companies engaged in imports of agricultural products (in particular, poultry, beef, lamb meat for McDonaldsArabia, which they sell in Kuwait), rolled metal, equipment and steel pipes for the oil and gas sector, water-pressure fittings, IT services, and also investment in real estate abroad. During the conversation, the Kuwaiti side was familiarized with the economic potential of Ukraine, informed of the attractiveness of business and investment climate in our country. Also they exchanged opinions on the trends and prospects of bilateral economic and investment cooperation.
Given the particular importance of the oil mining industry of the emirate, on May 16 the Ukrainian delegation visited the Kuwait Oil Company and held a meeting with its manager of the projects Mr. Ahmed Al-Zaabi. The sides discussed the most promising for bilateral cooperation projects. The Kuwaiti side confirmed its readiness to start cooperation with Ukrainian companies in the oil and gas sector. Representative of the Kuwait Oil Company received presentation materials concerning the potential of the domestic fuel and energy complex, energy sector as well as export capacities of the Ukrainian company Ukrnaftozapchastyna. The parties agreed to send delegations of experts of the oil and gas sector of Ukraine to Kuwait for more substantive negotiations on further cooperation with the Kuwait Oil Company.
There was also a series of meetings with representatives of diplomatic and business circles of the emirate, including with the heads of diplomatic missions of the United States and Vatican.