When high-ranking officials personally conduct field inspections, their actions become visible to the public, enabling them to directly assess the situation on the ground and implement necessary corrections. This hands-on approach was largely absent from the state apparatus over the past four or five decades. That period was marked by ongoing conflict and infighting between the National Assembly and successive governments. The result was ministerial instability, with officials often acting passively, leaving critical issues to chance and focusing primarily on avoiding political confrontation.
We have repeatedly highlighted this problem, as the vast majority of Kuwaitis have called for stability in the executive branch so the government can commit to and implement its program, a demand that long went unmet. However, the current government’s move towards active, on-the-ground engagement has revealed the deep-rooted shortcomings inherited from the previous era. This activity has exposed the extent of the decline within the ministries, largely driven by the pervasive influence of powerful vested interests. These interests actively obstructed any project that did not serve their agendas and, through their influence over members of parliament, interfered in nearly every aspect of governance.
Today, as we see the First Deputy Prime Minister conducting field visits to various facilities and directing the agencies under his supervision, we truly feel things are starting to move in the right direction. Just days ago, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef toured several farms and witnessed firsthand the difficulties faced by their owners in relation to food security.
This is due to the control exercised by certain traders and cartels over vegetables, meat, and other commodities, as they are unwilling to relinquish the substantial profits generated from imports. However, following the decisions and directives issued by the second-highest-ranking official in the Cabinet, there is now a real opportunity to revive this vital strategic sector and reduce the heavy food import bill.
Furthermore, we have been witnessing similar field visits by ministers for several months now, and their results are gradually becoming evident. This approach was clearly absent in the past. In many cases, the ministerial chair encouraged complacency, with officials content to limit their roles to signing internal correspondence. As a result, Kuwait lost major projects, including the Dow Chemical Company project, the Northern Economic Zone, and Silk City. It would also have lost Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port had the new administration not taken steps to advance it.
His Highness the Prime Minister is closely monitoring the project through field visits and weekly meetings with the committee responsible for finalizing arrangements with the companies implementing the port and other related projects. For the past 50 years, the idea of dedicated workers’ cities has been discussed without tangible progress. Commendably, the First Deputy Prime Minister recently declared this a top government priority, signaling that companies will soon begin implementation. However, this is just the beginning, not the completion. Achieving Kuwait’s development goals will require many additional steps.
A critical next phase involves significantly opening the country to both investors and visitors, along with a major overhaul of infrastructure. This development must cover the metro, railway, roads, electricity, and essential services, as well as the creation of entertainment and amenities needed to attract citizens, residents, and investors to the country. These proposals have been repeatedly highlighted in the media, yet they have long met with ministerial indifference and inaction. These ideas could serve as the foundation for a comprehensive national development plan.
The government, therefore, has a responsibility to actively review and take into consideration all public commentary to fully understand the situation and the demands of its citizens. A real commitment to advancing Kuwait, which is a nation that has lagged behind due to years of stagnation, will ensure that these efforts finally produce the desired results.
