Kuwait and Benin: New Food and Cyber Partnerships
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs, Ambassador Samih Hayat, affirmed that relations between Kuwait and the Republic of Benin have been continuously evolving since their establishment in 1973. He announced a move toward signing new agreements in the fields of food security and cybersecurity, alongside activating existing agreements, thereby strengthening the bilateral partnership and opening broader horizons for cooperation between the two countries.
This statement came during an interview Hayat gave to journalists on the sidelines of the Beninese embassy’s celebration of the 66th anniversary of the country’s independence. He clarified that Kuwait-Benin relations are based on a series of memorandums of understanding and agreements that have contributed to enhancing cooperation between the two sides, noting that the coming phase will see this cooperation pushed to wider levels.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to continuously review its relations with African countries, emphasizing the direction toward expanding Kuwaiti diplomatic representation on the continent in the near future. This stems from the growing importance Africa holds for Kuwait at the political, economic, and developmental levels.
Hayat pointed out that Kuwait has already begun enhancing its cooperation with several African countries in the field of labor recruitment. He noted the existence of agreements with some of these countries to recruit skilled labor and others, with ongoing efforts to expand this cooperation to meet the needs of the Kuwaiti labor market.
For his part, Ambassador of Benin, Professor Bediro Agemon, affirmed the strength of the ties between his country and Kuwait, describing them as being based on sincere friendship and mutual respect, and witnessing continuous growth at the political and economic levels. He expressed his country’s aspiration to elevate the bilateral partnership and expand the horizons of cooperation and investment to serve the interests of both nations.
Agemon stated that Benin takes pride in its close relations with Kuwait, praising the wisdom of the Kuwaiti leadership and its prominent role in consolidating security and stability and enhancing the values of dialogue and cooperation at the regional and international levels. He emphasized that dialogue and mutual respect constitute the two fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable peace and stability.
He added that Kuwait-Benin relations have witnessed notable development in recent years, reflected in the enhancement of political dialogue, strengthening the legal framework for cooperation, joint efforts to expand investment and trade exchange areas, and encouraging partnerships between the private sectors of the two countries.
He called on Kuwaiti investors and businessmen to take advantage of the investment opportunities offered by Benin, affirming that his country enjoys a stable, secure, and business-friendly environment, as well as a strategic location that allows access to West African markets. He highlighted promising opportunities in infrastructure, agriculture, agro-industries, energy, logistics, tourism, the digital economy, and industry, confirming the embassy’s readiness to provide all necessary facilitations to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries.
