KUWAIT – President Asif Ali Zardari and Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Friday vowed to further strengthen ties between the two countries through enhanced trade cooperation and joint ventures. Zardari also sought Kuwait’s support to enhance relations with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and said Pakistan had initiated strategic dialogue with the council.
After his arrival in the Gulf state, President Zardari discussed with Sheikh Sabah the potential of collaboration in diverse fields, for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their people during a meeting at the airport. Sheikh Sabah as a special gesture had invited President Zardari on his country’s golden jubilee celebrations, by sending his special envoy Dr Maatouq Al Maatouq in December last.
Zardari said the signing of bilateral treaty would promote investment in the two countries, adding that the Kuwait-Pakistan Investment Company had the potential to expand commercially feasible joint ventures in upstream and downstream petroleum and gas sectors, agriculture and mines besides export of meat to Kuwait.
Zardari proposed quota enhancement for employing skilled and semi-skilled manpower from Pakistan and called for institutionalising defence cooperation through training, military exchanges and cooperation between the defence industries.
He felicitated Sheikh Sabah on Kuwait’s 50th anniversary of independence, its 20th liberation day and the fifth anniversary of his accession as the Amir of Kuwait. Sabah thanked Zardari for accepting his invitation to join him and his nation in the moment of joy, and expressing a friendly gesture towards the brotherly country.
