ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 9 LOCAL/GULF Kuwaiti and Korean ‘business’ chiefs mull long term partnership Vital role of private sector to promote bilateral ties: Al-Bedaiwi SEOUL, Nov 3, (KUNA): Kuwaiti and South Korean business leaders met in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss pro- moting bilateral trade and direct investment. The 2nd Kuwaiti-Korean Business Forum was held in the World Trade Center Seoul (WTC Seoul), and attended by representatives of the rele- vant government bodies in both countries. The Kuwaiti delegation to the forum was led by Deputy Chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Abdulwahab Al-Wazzan. It included Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport Saoud Al- Naqi, Director of Kuwait Metro Project Eng. Manal Al-Duwaisan, head of investor services at the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) Mohammad Al-Sabbagh. Others included Kuwait Industries Union (KIU) Board Chairman Hussein Al-Kharafi, KCCI assistant head for public relations and Kuwaiti diplomats in South Korea, beisdes a host of businessmen from both sides. The Korean side included offi- cials of the Korea International Trade Association and represen- tatives of 50 firms, led by Hyundai Heavy Industries Chairman Kil Seon Choi and President and CEO of Daelim Industrial Chul Kyoon Lee. During the forum, the Kuwaiti delegation reviewed infrastructure projects comprised in the Kuwait 2035 vision, as well as the facili- ties and privileges offered through the new investment law, 116/2013, and by the Public Private Partnership Projects Authority. Al-Sabbagh briefed the meet- ing on the large facilities the law presents to foreign investors. An investment licence is issued in 30 days once an application is sub- mitted, he said. For his part, Al-Kharafi said that the event aims in the first place to build a long-term partnership. Talking to KUNA, Kuwait’s Ambassador to South Korea Jassim Al-Bedaiwi, referred to the 2nd business forum as a suc- cess, in terms of participants and the key topics tackled. Al-Bedaiwi pointed to the vital role of the private sector to promote bilateral ties. This 2nd forum is a natural flow of the first one held during the official visit to Kuwait by President Park Geun-hye last March, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kuwait Shin Boonam said. He added that Kuwait’s five- year term plan offers attractive investment opportunities to Korean firms that have already obtained deals worth $16 billion till 2016. Further deals worth about $30 bil- lion are expected in for 2017. KCCI’s Al-Wazzan said that the business leaders and govern- ment officials visit to South Korea was impressive. Meetings with Korean coun- terparts showed high interest in investing in Kuwait’s grand proj- ects, he told KUNA. Bilateral trade hit $19 billion in 2014, $16 billion of which went for Korea’s imports of Kuwaiti oil. This has placed Korea atop the list of world importers of Kuwaiti crude. US First Lady Michelle Obama (right), arrives at the Hamad Airport in the Qatari capi- tal Doha on Nov 2. Michelle Obama arrived in Qatar on the opening stage of her first solo Middle East tour, where she is expected to call for addressing ‘cultural beliefs’ obstructing girl’s education. (AFP) KUNA photo HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receiving Sheikh Nasser Al-Muhmmad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Arab delegates prepare for Riyadh summit CAIRO, Nov 3, (KUNA): Permanent del- egates at the Arab League held at the Arab League in Cairo a consultative meeting to discuss preparations and arrangements for the fourth Arab-South America summit due in Riyadh on Nov 10-11. In a keynote speech, the head of the meeting and Saudi delegate at the league Ahmad Qattan hoped that the Arab-South America summit would contribute to fur- ther promoting relations between Arab countries and South America in political, economic and social fields. On his part, the head of the Arab League’s America section Ibrahim Mohieddin said the meeting which was attended by Secretary-General Nabil Al-Araby will discuss logistical and tech- nical preparations for the Riyadh Summit. Michelle Obama arrives in Qatar for speech US first lady Michelle Obama arrived in Qatar on Monday as part of a two-country Mideast tour, with plans to visit a crucial air base in America’s war against the Islamic State group and give a speech on the importance of girl’s education. Obama touched down in Doha, the Qatari capital, on Monday night, the state- run Qatar News Agency reported, without elaborating. While in Doha, she’ll visit the al-Udeid air base with comedian and late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien. The base hosts the forward headquarters for US Central Command, as well as aircraft involved in the campaign of airstrikes tar- geting Islamic State militants in both Syria and Iraq. Obama is scheduled to give a speech Wednesday on her Let Girls Learn initia- tive at the 2015 World Innovation Summit for Education, sponsored by the Qatar Foundation. The foundation is chaired by Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned, former ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s most high-profile wife. Ahead of her speech, The Atlantic pub- lished an article online Monday by Obama, in which she said cultures, as well as funding, needed to be addressed to ensure girls are educated. (AP) Govt runs out of patience Iraq sacks trade officials in graft probe BAGHDAD, Nov 3, (RTRS): Iraq’s acting trade minister sacked the head of its powerful grain board and six other officials over graft allegations, sources said on Tuesday, in a test of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s ability to push through political reforms. Two trade ministry officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the move by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was part of a comprehensive operation. It aimed to “cleanse the ministry of officials who have any hint of corruption”, one said. The grain board is responsible for procur- ing grain internationally and from Iraqi farm- ers, making it one of the world’s biggest importers of wheat and rice. Any disarray there would raise concerns over the country’s ability to secure strategic commodities. The sweep also focuses attention on Abadi’s attempts to push through reforms announced in August after nationwide protests erupted over corruption, poor elec- tricity and water services and unemployment. In an effort to rein in Abadi amid discon- tent over his leadership style, Iraq’s parlia- ment voted unanimously on Monday to bar the government from passing important reforms without its approval. Some trade officials and their deputies were replaced after they were found to be unqualified for their positions, a ministry statement said on Tuesday. Authorities issued an arrest warrant last month for then Trade Minister Milas Mohamed Abdul Kareem after a corruption investigation into alleged bribes, illegal bene- fits and misuse of his position. A court also summoned Abdul Kareem — among the most senior officials to face judi- cial action since Abadi launched the cam- paign — along with eight other ministry offi- cials for questioning over claims of illicit gains made from the purchase of a Uruguayan rice shipment. Abdul Kareem, whose current whereabouts are unknown, has said the allegations are not based on solid evidence. Several trade ministry officials have faced corruption allegations in the past, and four ministry security guards are being prosecut- ed for allegedly killing a ministry media adviser in September with a bomb attached to his car. “The government has run out of patience... and must hit with an iron fist to eliminate the plague of corruption in the ministry.” News in Brief Smart birth certificates in ’16: Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Health Dr Mahmoud Abdulhadi said the issuance of smart mag- netic birth certificates will start next year, reports Al-Anba daily. Abdulhadi explained this step is being taken in line with the latest technological developments in a bid to prevent forgery, manipulation of cases or damages caused by fre- quent usage in government departments and other institu- tions. He said the smart magnetic birth certificates will contain chips for saving all the required information like the birth report for newborn babies and to allow easy modification of names or surnames. ❑ ❑ ❑ 52.5 pc divorce in 1st 6 mths: The number of mar- riages in the first six months of 2015 totaled 7,138 while the divorce rate reached 52.5 percent, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting statistics from the Legal Authentication Department in the Ministry of Justice. According to the statistical report, a total of 3,861 mar- riages were authenticated by a marriage official and the rest were done by the department. On the other hand, 699 marriages were certified through a court verdict and testimony of witnesses while 61 mar- riages took place in other countries. ❑ ❑ ❑ Privatization in coop resurfaces: Talks on the pri- vatization of central markets in cooperative societies resur- faced after the representatives of more than 39 cooperatives voiced objection to the idea, reports Al-Shahid daily quot- ing sources. Sources confirmed the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has consulted the Fatwa and Legislation Department regarding the proposed privatization. Sources said the ministry is gearing towards the privatiza- tion of the central markets in Dasma and Bneid Al-Gar Cooperative Society due to the financial losses that the latter has incurred; otherwise, the ministry might shut down the cooperative.