KUWAIT CITY, April 8: Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Tajikistan to Kuwait Dr. Zubaydullah Zubaydov recently organized a ceremony, honoring Ambassador of Benin to Kuwait Moudgaidou Soumanou Issoufou on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the country. The ceremony was held at the St. Regis Hotel, with several heads and representatives of diplomatic missions and a representative from the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in attendance. On this occasion, Zubaydov welcomed all those who attended the farewell ceremony for the outgoing Beninese Ambassador.

In his speech, Zubaydov praised the achievements of the outgoing ambassador throughout his eight years of work in Kuwait; during which he developed relations between the two countries and raised the level of cooperation in various fields. He revealed that Ambassador Soumanou presented his credentials to His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait on Feb 7, 2017. “Over eight years, he distinguished himself by representing his country in Kuwait in addition to being accredited as its ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” he said. He added Ambassador Soumano, 66, a married father of three, proudly carried the flag of Benin “During his tenure, he contributed significantly to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between the Republic of Benin and the countries to which he is accredited,” he added. He also pointed out Ambassador Soumano’s cooperation with his fellow heads of diplomatic missions in the country, wishing him success in his future assignments.

Meanwhile, Soumano praised the development of relations between Kuwait and the Republic of Benin in many areas. In a press statement on the sidelines of the celebration, he revealed that “important draft agreements have been initiated and are nearing completion. These include a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on domestic workers and an agreement on the mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official and special passports. Remarkable progress has also been made in economic and development cooperation.” He cited the intensification of cooperation with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), which has led to major investments in infrastructure projects. He also confirmed that negotiations are underway with Gulf airlines and shipping companies to establish direct air routes, which will open new channels for trade and investment between Benin and the Gulf region. He added the number of the Beninese community in Kuwait has grown from 900 individuals in 2017 to more than 8,800; reflecting successful efforts in this area. Regarding the appointment of a new ambassador for his country to Kuwait, he affirmed that a new ambassador has been appointed and will begin his duties within a month.

By Fares Al-Abdan
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff