National Guard, NCCAL, KISR signs accords with UK counterparts

LONDON: The Kuwait-British Joint Steering Group yesterday wrapped up its 14th session with an agreement on pursuing cooperation in diverse sectors including defense and cyber security. Kuwaiti and British officials, in a joint communique publicized after inking a common action plan for the next six months, said the coordination would focus on commerce, investments, immigration, security, defense, cyber security, health, education, scientific research, environment and culture.

The joint statement noted that the discussions between the Kuwaiti and British officials within the commission framework dealt with cooperation in global environment, through cooperation between the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development and the British Department for International Development. The statement added that the committee meeting, co-chaired by the Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Khaled Al-Jarallah, and the British Secretary of State for the Middle East and North Africa Andrew Murrison, tackled defense affairs and prospects to hold more joint military drills.

The two parties endorsed a joint action blueprint on aviation security, immigration, a project for information swap, training anti-terrorist squads, airports' security, it said, adding that the meeting was distinguished with "positive and useful discussions regarding cyber security," also noting that the British side pledged to continue helping in regulating communication and information technology in Kuwait.
British and Kuwaiti companies, the statement notes, can play a pivotal role in enhancing commercial ties, boosting commercial exchanges and organizing fairs and conventions. Kuwaiti exports to Britain reached £2.5 billion ($3.15 billion) last year, with the total trade exchanges between the two countries hitting £4 billion ($5 billion), also according to the joint statement. The two sides have pledged to expand cooperation in trade, scientific research, education, protecting the environment and overhauling the economy of creativity.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the Kuwaiti National Guard office's Director Major General Jamal Mohammad Dhiab and Deputy Director of Gulf and Iran at the British Ministry of Defense Giles Ahern signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding in the field of military cooperation and training. In a statement to KUNA, Dhiab explained that the memorandum of understanding aims at benefiting from the British experience in developing and strengthening the capabilities of the Kuwaiti National Guard.

It aims to achieve the vision of HH the Prime Minister and in accordance with the directives of HH the President of the National Guard and his deputy of the Strategic Document 2020. It will also allow the two sides to exchange courses, military exercises, specialized consultations and exchange of information, he added.

The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) also signed a contract with the British Council, being one of the leading countries in the knowledge field. In a statement to KUNA, Assistant Secretary-General for the Culture Sector at NCCL Issa Al-Ansari said signing of the contract with the British side came as an implementation of the memorandum of understanding inked by the two countries in culture and arts in June 2015.

The knowledge industry includes several areas, namely advertising, marketing, architecture, graphic design, product design, information technology, software, computer services, museums, exhibitions and visual arts, Ansari explained. He stressed the importance of cooperation with the British Council in such creative industries due to the ways in which it stimulates innovation. Ansari signed the contract on behalf the Kuwait side, while the Director General of the British Council Michael Jordan represented the British side.

Kuwait Scientific Research Institute (KISR) and the British Cultural Office also inked yesterday a memo for cooperation in scientific and technological research. It was signed by KISR Director General Samira Omar and the director of the British office in Kuwait Michael Gordon, after the end of the session of the joint commission.

Omar said the memo is complementary to the accord of understanding, signed on June 24, 2014, with regards to higher education and scientific research. She added that such cooperation will be pursued with emphasis on clean energy and management of waste. According to the memo, the Kuwaiti side will organize at least one visit for researchers to the UK to examine works at laboratories and specialized faculties as well as to discuss prospective joint programs. - KUNA