Enhancing Competitiveness in International Indices

The Cabinet was briefed during its meeting yesterday, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, on the outcomes of the official visit by President Emmanuel Macron, President of the friendly French Republic, and the accompanying official delegation to the State of Kuwait last Monday, as well as the substance of the official talks between the State of Kuwait and the French Republic.

The Cabinet reviewed a visual presentation delivered by the Direct Investment Promotion Authority regarding the latest developments of the Standing Committee for Improving and Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Business Environment in the State of Kuwait, and the most recent updates and developments of the Business Environment Improvement Program. The Cabinet also heard an explanation from the Director General of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Improving and Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Business Environment in the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Dr. Meshal Al-Jaber, on the achievements accomplished within the framework of the Committee’s work.

The Council emphasized the importance of continuing coordination among government entities and integrating efforts to implement national priorities and support state initiatives, thereby contributing to enhancing the efficiency of government procedures and strengthening the State of Kuwait’s competitiveness in international and global indices and reports.

For further details: The Cabinet was briefed on the outcomes of the official visit by the French President and the substance of the official talks between the two countries; it stressed the need to continue coordination among government entities and integrate efforts to implement national priorities to enhance Kuwait’s competitiveness in international and global indices and reports.

The Cabinet held its meeting yesterday, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister. Following the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Jara Al-Jaber issued the following statement:

At the outset of its meeting, the Cabinet was briefed on the outcomes of the official visit by President Emmanuel Macron, President of the friendly French Republic, and the accompanying official delegation to the State of Kuwait last Monday, as well as the substance of the official talks between the State of Kuwait and the friendly French Republic. During the talks, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah chaired the Kuwaiti side, while President Emmanuel Macron, President of the friendly French Republic, chaired the French side. The meeting was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, and a number of senior officials from both countries.

During the consultation session, the established bilateral relations between the two countries and their friendly peoples were reviewed, with efforts made to support and strengthen them across various fields and to broaden the frameworks of cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the friendly French Republic, particularly in economic, commercial, and investment sectors. The parties also explored ways to enhance their partnership in a manner that serves their common interests. Additionally, the latest developments on the regional and international scenes were discussed, particularly regarding developments in the region, along with an exchange of views on these matters.

The official visit was crowned with the signing of letters of intent, declarations of intent, and memoranda of understanding in various fields between the State of Kuwait and the friendly French Republic. The signing ceremonies were held in the presence of His Highness Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad, His Highness Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, and His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah, Prime Minister, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. The documents signed were as follows:

1. A letter of intent on defense cooperation between the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense and the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans.

2. A declaration of intent between the Government of the State of Kuwait and the Government of the French Republic regarding cooperation in civil aviation.

3. An exploratory cooperation declaration in the fields of data and artificial intelligence between the State Minister for Communications and Information Technology and the French company Bertem.

4. A declaration of intent between the Government of the State of Kuwait and the Government of the French Republic to enhance cooperation in academic, scientific, and technical fields.

5. A declaration of intent between the Government of the State of Kuwait and the Government of the French Republic regarding cooperation in promoting direct investment.

6. A declaration of intent between the Public Authority for Investment in the State of Kuwait and Airbus regarding strategic cooperation in the aviation sector.

7. A joint declaration of intent among the Kuwait Public Authority for Investment, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, and the Gustave Roussy Institute.

8. A memorandum of understanding between the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences and Airbus in Africa and the Middle East.

During this official visit, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad conferred the “Mubarak Al-Kabeer Chain” upon French President Emmanuel Macron, as a token of appreciation and gratitude from the Kuwaiti people and to strengthen and reinforce the good relations between the friendly French Republic and the State of Kuwait. In turn, the French President conferred upon His Highness the “Grand Cross of the French Legion of Honour,” the highest national French order in its highest class, in recognition of His Highness’s prominent role in broadening the horizons of cooperation and strengthening relations between the State of Kuwait and the friendly French Republic across all fronts.

On another note, the Cabinet was briefed on the substance of the meeting held by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, attended by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousif and the Chief of the Diwan of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad, with Vice Admiral Kurt Renshaw, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, Fifth Fleet, and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, last Sunday during his visit to the country.

In this context, the Cabinet was also briefed on the substance of the meeting held between the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousif and Vice Admiral Kurt Renshaw, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, Fifth Fleet, and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, last Sunday during his visit to the country. The meeting discussed aspects of cooperation and coordination between the State of Kuwait and the friendly United States of America, and ways to enhance the close bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, with a commitment to continue exchanging

The experiences in a manner that serves common interests and contributes to supporting security and stability in the region, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest. On the other hand, the Cabinet expressed the State of Kuwait’s solidarity and sympathy with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a fraternal country, following the crash of a helicopter belonging to the National Guard Ministry in the Najran region, which resulted in the martyrdom of its air crew consisting of two officers. The Cabinet conveyed its deepest condolences and sincere sympathies to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a fraternal country, and to the families of the two martyrs, praying to Almighty God to envelop them in His vast mercy and to grant their families patience and solace.

The Cabinet also expressed Kuwait’s welcome of the Presidential Statement issued by the Security Council regarding the continuous attacks carried out by the Houthi militia on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a fraternal country, and its condemnation of these attacks targeting civilians, civilian objects, and vital installations, which threaten navigation security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab. It affirmed Kuwait’s support for the positions contained in the statement, particularly the reaffirmation of the Kingdom’s right to self-defense in accordance with international law and the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015), as well as preventing the flow of weapons, financing, and other forms of military support to the Houthi militia. It reiterated Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its full support for the Kingdom in all measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its security and stability, emphasizing that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

On another note, the Cabinet expressed Kuwait’s pride in its election to the membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2027–2029, following the elections held by the UN General Assembly on October 13, 2026, in New York. This reflects the international community’s confidence in Kuwait and its appreciation of the country’s role and contributions at both the regional and international levels. The Cabinet conveyed its sincere thanks and appreciation to the fraternal and friendly countries that supported Kuwait’s candidacy, emphasizing that this confidence serves as an incentive to continue its contributions within the framework of multilateral international action. It stressed that this election is a continuation of Kuwait’s firm approach of respecting the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, its commitment to promoting human rights, and its constructive engagement with related issues, free from selectivity, politicization, and double standards. It affirmed that Kuwait’s membership for the term 2027–2029 represents a continuation of its efforts during its current term (2024–2026) and an opportunity to sustain its active and balanced role in enhancing the work of the Human Rights Council and consolidating the principles of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect.

On another note, the Cabinet heard an explanation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Jaraah Al-Jaber, regarding the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions abroad to keep pace with the latest developments in the regional and international arenas.

In this context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Jaraah Al-Jaber, briefed the Cabinet on the outcomes of the 168th session of the GCC Ministerial Council, which was held last Sunday in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a fraternal country. The Minister of Foreign Affairs chaired the Kuwaiti delegation participating in this meeting, explaining that the session discussed ways to enhance the momentum of joint GCC work to achieve greater integration among GCC member states in various fields.

In addition to discussing current regional developments and their implications at the regional and international levels, the meeting emphasized the importance of continuing Gulf coordination across various fronts amid the delicate circumstances facing the region, based on shared destiny and common history, and to bolster efforts to address existing challenges.

On another note, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Jara Al-Jaber, briefed the Council of Ministers on the outcomes of the ninth joint ministerial meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Russian Federation, which was held last Sunday in the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain. The Kuwaiti delegation participating in this meeting was chaired by Sheikh Jara Al-Jaber. During the meeting, the foreign ministers of the GCC states and the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, reaffirmed the robust relationship and historical friendship ties between the GCC and the Russian Federation. The gathering explored ways to enhance Gulf-Russian relations and expand cooperation into broader and more comprehensive horizons that serve mutual interests. Regional and international issues and current regional developments and their repercussions were also discussed, along with frameworks to intensify coordination between the GCC states and the Russian Federation regarding various challenges facing the region and the world, and to advance efforts toward peacebuilding.

In this context, Sheikh Jara Al-Jaber informed the Council of Ministers about the substance of his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, held on the sidelines of the ninth joint ministerial meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the GCC and the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Bahrain last Sunday. The bilateral historical relations between the two friendly countries and ways to enhance and develop them across various fields were reviewed, alongside discussions on current regional developments and their implications at the regional and international levels.

On another front, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Jara Al-Jaber, briefed the Council of Ministers on the content of phone calls he held and received over the past few days with several foreign ministers of sister countries. These calls discussed the latest developments on the regional and international scenes and underscored the importance of continuing coordination and consultation between Kuwait and those sister countries to support and enhance joint efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the region.

The Council of Ministers was also briefed on a presentation by the Direct Investment Promotion Authority regarding the latest updates on the work of the Standing Committee for Improving and Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Business Environment in Kuwait, as well as the latest developments in the Business Environment Improvement Program.

In this regard, the Council of Ministers heard an explanation from the Director General of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Improving and Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Business Environment in Kuwait, Sheikh Dr. Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber, on the achievements made within the committee’s work, the coordination steps and measures taken among relevant government entities concerning business environment improvement, and the efforts and initiatives related to enhancing the competitiveness of the business environment in Kuwait.

For his part, the Council of Ministers emphasized the importance of continuing coordination among government entities and integrating efforts to implement national priorities and support state initiatives, thereby contributing to improving the efficiency of government procedures and enhancing Kuwait’s competitiveness in relevant indices and reports.

International and global affairs. The Cabinet reviewed a number of agenda items, reports, and minutes of ministerial committees, and approved them. It also decided to refer several of these items to the relevant ministerial committees for study and to submit appropriate recommendations to complete the procedures for their implementation.

The Cabinet reviewed a presentation by the Minister of State for Development Affairs on periodic reports regarding methods for treating waste and utilizing it. The presentation was delivered by Dr. Reem Al-Faleh, Minister of State for Development and Sustainability, in the presence of Nouf Bahbahani, Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Environmental Affairs. The Minister of Development explained that, in accordance with a Cabinet decision entrusting the Public Authority for Environmental Affairs to coordinate with the Ministry of Health, Kuwait Municipality, the Public Authority for Industry, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, and the Office of Fatwa and Legislation, to study the jurisdictions of relevant government entities concerning the disposal and treatment of all types of waste from legal and technical perspectives, and to develop frameworks that would regulate existing arrangements, define the role of each entity in terms of waste classification, assess the degree of hazard, establish handling requirements and oversight mechanisms, and prepare appropriate frameworks to facilitate operations and eliminate any overlaps among government entities in this regard. The aim is to protect the environment, reduce pollution, and continuously develop implemented procedures in line with the latest international best practices and those most suitable for the nature of the State of Kuwait and its needs.