French firms eye Kuwait  

PARIS: Fabius will be seeking to have an impact on this situation during his trip and he has been promoting a new policy of “Economic Diplomacy” since he beefed up his power in the government by absorbing the Trade Ministry into the Foreign Ministry. French companies; some of whom will be travelling with Fabius, have expressed interest in a number of projects in Kuwait’s four-year development plan, including in the energy, environment, transport and infrastructure sectors.

Among projects France expressed an interest in are subway or metro system for Kuwait City, a desalination plant, a construction project for another terminal at Kuwait International Airport, a new campus at Kuwait University and a number of new hospitals, in addition to refurbishing other health facilities.

Many in the French leadership regularly recall that France needs to boost economic ties to the level of the “excellent political relations” between the two countries. Bilateral military ties between France and Kuwait are also very strong. France took part in the international Coalition to expel the Iraqi occupation army from Kuwait in 1991 and a Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed between Kuwait and France in 1993. In 2009, this agreement was revitalized and expanded to lay the foundations for “a strategic partnership” which includes joint military exercises of the kind just completed by naval forces in Kuwait.

Other elements include training and participation of French military personnel in servicing, repairing and upgrading Kuwaiti military equipment. Kuwait and France signed a culture agreement in 1969 and contacts and exchanges have grown throughout the years, leading to accords on education and other activities, notably and most recently with the Institut des Etudes Politiques (Science Po), France’s elite school for future politicians and leaders in several sectors.

Kuwait has also played an active role in supporting cultural institutions in France, primarily through generous donations from His Highness the Amir to the Arab World Institute (IMA) and the Louvre Museum as it built an 8th Department for Islamic Art.