Lebanese Ambassador: Tripoli a new gateway for Kuwaiti trade and investments
Lebanese Ambassador Ghadi Al-Khoury and General Manager of the Special Economic Zone Hassan Al-Dinawi emphasized the importance of strengthening commercial and investment partnerships with Kuwait, leveraging Tripoli's strategic location and new infrastructure projects.
Translated by Qiyas from القبس — Original source
May Al-Sukari: Lebanese Ambassador to Kuwait, Ghadi Al-Khoury, emphasized the importance of strengthening commercial and investment partnerships between his country and Kuwait. He noted that the city of Tripoli and the Special Economic Zone in northern Lebanon offer abundant opportunities in the sectors of trade, transport, and logistics, thereby enhancing connectivity with Syrian and Arab markets and opening additional routes for the movement of goods to Kuwait and other Gulf states.
This statement was made during a dialogue session titled “Tripoli: The Gateway to Investment: The Special Economic Zone and Promising Opportunities,” moderated by legal advisor Dr. Bilal Al-Aql Al-Sanadid.
Al-Khoury clarified that Tripoli’s strategic location, its proximity to Qleiat Airport, and its connection to regional markets provide the foundations for its transformation into a significant commercial and logistics hub. He pointed out that several ideas and projects are currently under review, including the re-examination of the feasibility of constructing a pipeline to transport oil from Iraq to Lebanon, with the possibility of extending it from Kuwait to Lebanon in the future.
He highlighted that challenges facing shipping through certain maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, underscore the importance of exploring additional options for transport and trade. He explained that the Port of Tripoli could provide alternative routes to deliver goods to Kuwait and other Gulf countries.
Regarding investment guarantees, Al-Khoury affirmed that investment decisions rest with the investor, while the state’s role lies in presenting available opportunities and providing the necessary information for decision-making based on investors’ assessments.
He appreciated Kuwait’s support for Lebanon, emphasizing that Kuwait serves as a genuine pillar for his country. He noted that relations between the two nations are rooted in close historical ties, as well as Kuwaiti investments and aid provided over the years, expressing his hope to expand the horizons of economic and investment cooperation in the coming period.
For his part, Hassan Al-Dinawi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of the Special Economic Zone in Tripoli, called on Kuwaiti investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities offered by the zone in northern Lebanon. He stressed that the modern legislative framework provides financial incentives and administrative facilitations aimed at attracting foreign investments, including those from Kuwaiti companies operating locally or with an international presence.
Al-Dinawi stated that his visit to Kuwait aims to introduce the project and present new investment opportunities to the Kuwaiti private sector, emphasizing that Kuwait is a historical partner of Lebanon with a prominent presence in investments and development projects.
He explained that Tripoli and northern Lebanon possess the prerequisites to become a major investment and logistics hub, amid preparations to relaunch Qleiat Airport, also known as the Martyr President René Moawad Airport, during the second half of November. Additionally, efforts are underway to expand the Port of Tripoli and study the construction of a railway line connecting the city to the Lebanese-Syrian border.
He added that the integration of these projects will enhance the region’s capabilities in transport, trade, and logistics, and open broader horizons for foreign investment. He noted that his meetings with Kuwaiti investors yielded positive responses, covering investment incentives, mechanisms for protecting foreign investments, guarantees related to security stability, and the level of government support for the proposed projects.
Regarding the potential to leverage the Port of Tripoli to support trade and shipping flows to Kuwait and Gulf countries, Al-Dunaoui confirmed that the port and the special economic zone can serve as a logistical platform supporting Kuwait’s commercial sector, noting that opportunities extend beyond the oil sector to include food products, consumer goods, logistics services, and international trade.
