Dear Friends,
As we celebrate the 58th National Day and the 28th Liberation Day of the State of Kuwait today, I recall here with great pride the sacrifices of the brave sons of the Kuwaiti soil in defence of legitimacy, truth, fairness and justice. They gave their lives so that Kuwait can live on with its head held high.
Such sacrifices in defence of one’s rights strike a responsive chord in the sacrifices of the language martyrs of Bangladesh who gave their lives so that the people here in this part of the sub-continent can speak in their mother tongue freely. This sacrifice was indeed the harbinger of the independence movement in Bangladesh. As we celebrate our independence and the world observers the International Mother Language Day, the spirit of sacrifices imbue in us strong convictions of peace and cooperation, the principles of tolerances, fairness and equality.
Friends, we are all familiar with the time tested relation between our two friendly countries. This relationship, based on strong foundation of respect for the rule of law and equal rights, shaped by strong convictions and principles was first initiated by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in 1974. Over the years, a number of events and developments consolidated our bonding and our two countries share similar vision and approach on global issues of importance. In our tryst with destiny in 1990, Bangladesh took a principled stand in favour of truth and justice and international legitimacy.
Our relation with Bangladesh reflects the foreign policy outlook of my country. His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah rightly asserted that Kuwait’s diplomacy is based on conviction of peace and cooperation among all countries. Kuwait has succeeded through joyful and sorrowful circumstances, to make its mark on the global arena particularly through blending its economic wealth and its goals of creating a world of peace and stability. This approach of Kuwait to build bridges of friendship and cooperation by using its resources to eradicate poverty, to be partner in progress of other countries, to support activities and projects in different countries aimed at improving the life style of the people, has earned it international admiration and the United Nations adjudged Kuwait and His Highness the Amir as leader of Humanitarian work. In harmony with Kuwait’s pursuit of deepening its relations in particular with developing countries, Kuwait has evinced keen interest in the development strategy of Bangladesh and has been associated as a development partner since 1974. Kuwait Fund has provided soft loans worth US $ 556.10 million to cover 24 projects in Energy, road communication, power generation and infra-structure development. Kuwaiti NGOs have complemented Kuwait’s efforts in Bangladesh with their own social welfare projects worth over $ 1 billion.
Friends, our fraternal relations is built on mutual interest and understanding. I would like to mention with great admiration the commendable performance of the Bangladesh diaspora in Kuwait who are engaged in different sectors for long. Their role whether in Kuwait’s development work or in enhancing peace and security are widely appreciated in Kuwait.
Friends, there is a tremendous scope to take our cooperative relations to new heights. This could come through people to people interaction as well as through expanding our business relation. Currently, the balance of trade between our two countries tilts in favor of Kuwait because of its oil exports to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi business houses should widen their export basket to Kuwait to reduce this deficit. The development strategy of Kuwait under its Vision 2035 is set to establish Kuwait as a financial and industrial hub. Kuwait Government has allotted 1036 industrial blocks in the multipurpose industrial city. The Government has liberalized investment regulations to attract both local private sector and overseas foreign investment. There are scopes for investing in pharmaceuticals, petro chemicals, plastics and foodstuff in addition to garments and newsprints. Enterprising Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in their quest for new destination for their products, should take advantage of the current investment possibility in Kuwait as well as aim at marketing their products in and beyond Kuwait, to the Gulf regions using Kuwait as the hub.
Friends, as we step into another year of our historical relationship, I look with great optimism at the strides we have made together this far under the pragmatic and sagacious of the leaderships in our two countries.
Friends, I am overwhelmed by the hospitality of the Bangladeshis and I would like to express my gratitude to the Government and the friendly people of Bangladesh for harbouring warm sentiments for Kuwait and its people.
Long live Kuwait-Bangladesh friendship.
