KUWAIT: The proposed new development plan includes allocating KD 102 million over 119 months (about KD 10 million per year) for programs that improve Kuwait’s image abroad, as well as support culture, art and information in a way that serves “Kuwait’s image”.

The plan said Kuwait’s reputation image is below the accepted international level, which requires increasing the role of international diplomacy and activating participation in world arenas.

It also aims at boosting the state’s image in the fields of freedom, democracy and human rights. It encourages tourist investments, art and literal creativity in addition to concentrating on Kuwait’s role as a center for humanitarian work. Culturally, the diagnosis points to weakness in the theater, cinema and government media, and calls for developing media freedoms.

The plan sees increases until 2020 in the number of book exhibitions both domestically and abroad, formative arts exhibitions and cultural and art festivals. The bodies that are concerned with the above mentioned programs are: Foreign Ministry, Information Ministry, Investment Encouraging Authority, National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Kuwait University and the Secretariat General of the Higher Council for Planning and Development. —Al-Qabas