National Strategy to Attract Foreign Talent and Expertise
Public circles welcomed with great enthusiasm the appointment of a new board of directors for Kuwait Airways, a reaction driven by two main factors: first, the negative state the national airline had been suffering from, particularly regarding its services; and second, the inclusion in the new board of several foreign experts with extensive experience in civil and commercial aviation.
Recruiting and attracting expertise and specialization from abroad is the hallmark of nations seeking development and progress. Kuwaitis still fondly recall the many experts who were attracted during the early stages of the modern state’s formation, playing a pivotal role alongside national talents in laying the foundations of the modern state in the late 1950s and early 1960s. For instance, we remember with appreciation the role of the late senior advisor Abdul Razzaq Al-Sanhouri in establishing the foundations of Kuwait’s legal system, and we never forget the prominent role of the late advisor Osman Khalil Osman in drafting the Kuwaiti Constitution in the early 1960s.
The engagement of foreign expertise is not intended to diminish national capabilities, as some believe. Rather, foreign experts selected under strict criteria play a crucial role in filling skill gaps and voids not currently available among national talents, thereby contributing to keeping pace with developments in modern science and the requirements of construction and development. Furthermore, attracting foreign expertise helps accelerate the timeline to achieve construction goals. Foreign experts can also contribute to qualifying national talents by transferring their knowledge in various vital fields.
The State of Kuwait has been a pioneer since the inception of the modern state in effectively utilizing foreign professional expertise, a path that played a positive role in progress and advancement. International experience confirms the importance of this approach. Gulf states, such as our brothers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, continue to expand this practice according to specific regulations and visions to attract foreign talents, benefit from them, and transfer their expertise to national cadres. A notable example is the UAE’s adoption in 2021 of a national strategy to attract and retain talent. History records how Germany achieved rapid development after World War II, addressing destruction and the loss of German capabilities by leveraging foreign expertise. Similarly, one of the reasons for Singapore’s success lies in the policies of its leader, Lee Kuan Yew, who attracted foreign talents and expertise to build Singapore, which is now among the most prominent advanced nations.
The news of terminating the services of thousands of foreign teachers working in the Ministry of Education has sparked some debate regarding the basis of the decision and its timing, which coincided with the start of the new academic season in September. While the ongoing discussion about the decision does not contradict the importance of Kuwaitizing the Kuwaiti educational system, questions arise regarding the inappropriate timing at the start of the academic season and its impact on the educational process at present, as well as on the circumstances of foreign male and female workers who were not given sufficient opportunity to arrange their affairs. Secondly, the decision relates to the idea of dismissing everyone without considering the existence of specific expertise and skills among foreign female and male teachers whose expertise should have been utilized; dismissing them altogether amounts to a loss of accumulated expertise.
We call on the relevant authorities in the state to adopt the principles established in several advanced countries by formulating a national strategy to attract foreign talents and expertise.
Hamza Abbas - Abdullah Al-Ayoub - Dr. Khaled Boudi (may God have mercy on them)
A number of Kuwaiti stars have passed away to the mercy of God. The late Hamza Abbas Hussein was one of Kuwaiti economic thinkers, and the late lawyer Abdullah Khalid Al-Ayoub was the former president of the Lawyers Association. Dr. Khalid Mohammed Boudi was known for his thought, writing, and contributions to economic and national causes.
We will miss, and Kuwait will miss, generous stars in their specialized and personal contributions—stars who loved Kuwait and its people, characterized by good manners, high morals, and pleasant memories. May God have mercy on them all. O God, have mercy on them with Your vast compassion, honor their dwelling, and admit them into Your gardens. May God magnify the reward for the people of Kuwait, their families, and their loved ones.
Dr. Mohammed Hussein Al-Dallal
