Kuwait, UK ink joint steering group action plan

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarrallah and British Minister of State at Foreign and Commonwealth Office for Middle East and North Africa Alan Duncan signed here on Thursday the action plan of the UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group (JSG) for the coming six months. The signing came at the conclusion of the JSG third session. According to the a press statement, the JSG meeting discussed a range of issues, including defense, security, migration, higher education, health, trade and investment and energy. On military cooperation, the conferees reached a deal to upgrade Kuwaiti Desert Warrior infantry vehicles. On migration, both sides agreed on increasing information exchange relevant to illegal migrants. On healthcare, they discussed British public and private sectors' aspired role to help Kuwait make a revolution in healthcare sector as well as to continue offer the distinguished healthcare service for thousands of Kuwaitis who receive treatment in the United Kingdom. On Education, the representatives of the British Council and Kuwait Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education discussed two memos of understanding to shore up cooperation, particularly in teaching in English and educating people special needs, as well as higher education. They two sides hope the memos will be signed in the next meeting of the JSG. On trade and investment, the conferees tackled the great Kuwaiti efforts to remove hindrances facing UK companies and investors in Kuwait as well as the growing Kuwaiti investments in the UK. They mulled the role which the UK can play to help Kuwait materialize its ambitious infrastructure development plans, particularly in the transportation sector. On Energy, the statement noted that JSG discussed means to strengthen cooperation to retain energy market stability and bolster Kuwait energy companies' presence on the UK energy market. They also expressed readiness to increase technical cooperation in the energy sector. The JSG was established during the historic visit, paid by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to Britain in November 2012. The JSC, which meets twice a year, is tasked with covering bilateral relationship and cooperation in regional issues, development, defense, migration, trade, investment, education and training, legislative and judicial, security, and healthcare. It is also tasked to follow up on the wide range of agreements and projects signed between the two countries. It comprises representatives of the ministries of foreign, defense, interior, commercial, oil, communication and educational affairs, along with officials of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce as well as the Public Investment Authority