KUWAIT CITY, March 7:  Kuwait Gulf Link (KGL) is in the process of enhancing its presence in Iran and the region, following a restructuring, debt scheduling and fleet upgrading program, since it has won significant local contracts with KPA and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).
According to a knowledgeable source, KGL maintains an elite exclusive business relation with Tehran due to its co-partnership with the Iranian Al Fajr Valfajr and its management of Ras Al Khaimah sea port which is known of for its intensive commercial activities with Iran.  The source explained the restructuring plan that the company implemented lately was fruitful as it yielded positive results.  The source anticipates success in terms of KGL’s operational and financial performance within the coming period.
Reports of KGL have also shown that through the company’s acquisition plan — owning valuable shares in more than 20 companies -  along with shares in subsidiaries and sister companies, it has proven its ability to develop its operational mechanism and activities.  This is possible through its expertise  and more than 25 years of experience in providing a wide range of logistics services, including stevedoring services, loading and unloading of vessels, on land and sea transport and other related services.
Sources added due to the ramifications of the global economic crisis, KGL adopted a cost cutting policy, particularly the operational costs, in addition to restructuring subsidiaries through mergers and by selling some of them.  KGL’s subsidiaries, sister companies and joint ventures include Shaheen Al Thahabi Investment, Gulf Coast for Marine Services, Global Machinery, KGL Car Rental, KGL Holding, KGL Logistics, KGL Metal Trading and Piercing, KGL Passengers Transport Services, KGL General Services, KGL Real Estate and KGL International Sea Ports, Warehousing and Transport.
KGL has succeeded in maintaining and developing its regional activities in Iran, Iraq, Egypt and Sudan.  The Iranian market, where it boasts of leading special presence that has contributed to its capabilities to execute many transport and logistics contracts covering different sectors and industrial segments, including critical and sensitive sectors, makes it possible for KGL to achieve further growth in its operation in this promising market. 
 Considering that KGL is active in sea port operations between Kuwait and Iran, the source said it has upgraded and enlarged its fleet for passengers transport operations by 400 percent to include 750 buses in anticipation of new contracts in the future.
The source affirmed KGL has enhanced its partnership in Iran through the establishment of Combined Shipping Company (CSC), a Kuwaiti shareholding closed company founded in 1996 as a joint venture between KGL Holding and the Iranian VALFAJR-Shipping Company, a subsidiary of IRISL Group — the main Iranian sea transporter for passengers and cargo in the Gulf region and worldwide.
A joint venture between KGL, Gulf Holding and Iranian Al Fajr Company is considered a major investor in transport, logistics and technology services sectors in the Middle East and Iran, while Al Fajr is a subsidiary of Iran Shipping Company -the major marine transport for Iran’s goods in the Gulf and worldwide.
Despite the American government sanctions on Valfajr in September 2008 due to allegations that Iran owns weapons of mass destruction after its expansion in petrochemical marine transport sector in 2008, the CSC has succeeded in achieving a high percentage of financial and operational performance, surpassing the impact of these sanctions.
KGL as the major operator of Ras Al Khaimah sea port and through a partnership with Al Fajr Valfajr, which is owned by the Iranian government, has succeeded in enhancing its presence in Iran by launching a marine line between Iran and Ras Al Khaimah.
After rescheduling payment of debts to implement its strategic plans and long term projects, KGL is ready to boost its financial status by applying exits with Saudi investors and efforts to win more contracts in and outside Kuwait.
Along with its subsidiaries and sister companies, KGL has finalized major contracts, including cranes maintenance operation, installment, manufacturing and supply in Shuwaikh Port for two years with a total cost of KD 44.7 million and a car rental contract. with Kuwait Oil company for 30 months at KD9.7 million.