KUWAIT CITY, Jan 22: The Council of Ministers held its weekly meeting on Tuesday morning, January 21, 2025, at Bayan Palace, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Following the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sherida Abdullah Al-Muasherji, briefed the media on the outcomes.

At the start of the meeting, the Cabinet reviewed the content of the discussions between His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom. The talks took place during the Amir’s visit to Scotland from January 14 to 16, 2025, in response to a personal invitation from the British monarch. The meeting emphasized the long-standing and robust relations between Kuwait and the United Kingdom, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further enhancing cooperation across various fields.

The Cabinet also extended its congratulations to US President Donald Trump on his inauguration, highlighting the deep and historic ties between Kuwait and the United States. The ministers expressed their best wishes for President Trump’s success and the continued prosperity of both the United States and its people.

In a separate matter, the Cabinet welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the importance of this agreement in contributing to a permanent peace and ending the ongoing attacks against the Palestinian people. The Cabinet commended the efforts of the international community, particularly Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and all other parties involved in facilitating the ceasefire. Kuwait expressed hope that the agreement would alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and allow the continuous delivery of humanitarian aid. The Cabinet reiterated Kuwait’s firm stance in supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, within the borders of June 4, 1967.

The Cabinet also reviewed a presentation by Dr. Amthal Hadi Al-Huwailah, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs, regarding the launch of a central aid system. This system aims to streamline the process of distributing aid by providing a unified portal for aid seekers to apply using their civil number and authenticate via the My Identity application. The system is designed to save time and improve efficiency in processing aid requests, which will be tracked from submission through to disbursement. Furthermore, Minister Al-Huwailah informed the Cabinet that some charitable organizations had been dissolved and liquidated for failing to comply with the relevant laws and continuing to commit violations, in line with Article 27 of Law No. 24 of 1962 concerning clubs and public benefit associations.

Additionally, the Cabinet reviewed a presentation from the Minister of Public Works Dr. Noura Mohammed Al-Mashaan, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Head of the Fatwa and Legislation Department Counselor Salah Ateeq Al-Majed, and Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ambassador Samih Jawhar Hayat, regarding the latest developments concerning the memorandum of understanding between Kuwait and China on the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project on Bubiyan Island. The Cabinet emphasized the importance of this regional transportation hub, which will help develop the northern region into an integrated economic and urban system, contributing to the diversification and growth of Kuwait’s GDP. The Cabinet approved the Chinese government’s nomination and authorized the continuation of the direct contract with the China State Construction and Communications Corporation to implement, manage, and operate the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project in its three phases.

The Cabinet also reviewed recommendations from the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs on a draft decree-law amending certain provisions of Decree-Law No. (38) of 1980, which governs civil and commercial procedures. The proposed amendments aim to simplify litigation procedures and expedite dispute resolution, ensuring timely access to justice.

Furthermore, the Cabinet reviewed recommendations from the Ministerial Committee for Public Services regarding two generous donations to the Ministry of Health. Kuwait Finance House has donated 15 million Kuwaiti dinars for the construction and equipping of a heart disease and research center, while the heirs of the late Khaled Zaid Al-Khaled have donated 4.5 million Kuwaiti dinars to build a health and dialysis center in the Hawalli area. The Cabinet expressed its deep gratitude for these donations, which reflect a strong spirit of cooperation and social responsibility in support of the country’s healthcare system.

The Cabinet also approved several items on the agenda, referring others to relevant ministerial committees for further study and preparation of reports. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the minutes of the Higher Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality, which includes cases involving the loss or withdrawal of Kuwaiti nationality, in accordance with Decree Law No. (15) of 1959 concerning Kuwaiti nationality and its amendments.