Kuwait Unveils Plan to Prepare Durra Field, Sovereign Investment Fund for Local Investment

People watch as the "buck moon" rises over the skyline of Kuwait City on July 3, 2023. (AFP)
People watch as the "buck moon" rises over the skyline of Kuwait City on July 3, 2023. (AFP)
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Kuwait Unveils Plan to Prepare Durra Field, Sovereign Investment Fund for Local Investment

People watch as the "buck moon" rises over the skyline of Kuwait City on July 3, 2023. (AFP)
People watch as the "buck moon" rises over the skyline of Kuwait City on July 3, 2023. (AFP)

The Kuwaiti government has announced a plan to strengthen the comprehensive infrastructure of the offshore Durra oil and gas field.

Not only that, the government will also look to elevate the production of unrestricted gas (excluding the Divided Zone) from 521 million cubic feet per day to a staggering 930 million cubic feet per day.

The recently unveiled four-year government action plan, spanning from 2023 to 2027, has been submitted to the National Assembly, outlining the meticulous preparations for the infrastructure development of the Durra field.

According to the plan, the infrastructure provisioning for the field is slated to take place in the fourth year of the program.

Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al-Sadoun has extended an invitation to convene a special session next Tuesday to discuss the government’s action plan.

The government has revealed its intention to study the establishment of a sovereign investment fund to drive development and enhance local economic activity.

Additionally, it includes a strategy to elevate the classification of Kuwait’s financial markets from emerging markets to advanced emerging markets by the FTSE Russell Index.

Moreover, another plan aims to gradually digitize 90% of government services over the next four years.

The government plan aims to empower the private sector to fulfill its role “under effective state oversight” while ensuring that the state establishes an atmosphere of trust to encourage local investment and attract foreign capital.

The government’s action program also includes the development of a comprehensive framework for reviewing salaries in the public sector through updating the strategic alternative study.

This is intended to align compensation with merit and productivity, while encouraging a shift towards private sector employment to streamline costs on the state’s finances.

Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah emphasized that the government’s action program aims to solidify reforms, address challenges, and boost development for the progress of the country.



Kuwait Seeks to Offer Flexible Incentives to Attract Foreign Investments

Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
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Kuwait Seeks to Offer Flexible Incentives to Attract Foreign Investments

Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)

Mohammad Yaqoub, Assistant Director General for Business Development at Kuwait’s Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), announced that Kuwait is actively working to boost investments in emerging sectors such as the management of government facilities, hospitals, and ports, including Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port.

He added that his country is collaborating with Saudi Arabia on joint projects, notably the development of a railway linking the two nations.

Speaking at the 28th Annual Global Investment Conference in Riyadh, Yaqoub highlighted the 650-kilometer railway project, which is expected to cut travel time between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to under three hours. He clarified that this initiative is separate from the broader GCC railway network under development.

The official further emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to offering streamlined processes and incentives to attract foreign investment in critical sectors such as oil and gas, healthcare, education, and technology.

Since January 2015, the Gulf country has attracted cumulative foreign investments valued at approximately 1.7 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($5.8 billion). During the 2023–2024 fiscal year, KDIPA reported foreign investment inflows amounting to 206.9 million Kuwaiti dinars ($672 million).

Yaqoub stressed that KDIPA is focused on creating an investor-friendly environment by offering flexible incentives to attract international companies. He noted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in this area and highlighted his country’s efforts to provide comparable benefits to foreign investors.

He also expressed optimism about the potential for growth in foreign investments in Kuwait, emphasizing their role in advancing economic development in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Yaqoub also underscored the strong synergy between the Kuwaiti and Saudi markets, which he said will help accelerate economic progress across the region.