His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah has established a commendable practice in ministerial work by holding weekly meetings every Thursday with the Ministerial Committee for Monitoring Major Development Projects. This undoubtedly carries significant implications that should be reflected in decisions serving local development, boosting national output, stimulating the economy, and revitalizing the financial sector, which is suffering from a deficit that could affect Kuwait’s future. Recent events have contributed to increased inflation, a problem that countries around the world are trying to combat through organized efforts and bold decisions. Achieving this goal requires intensifying the efforts of all government entities and ensuring they fulfill their responsibilities in serving the development agenda.
Consequently, government agencies must reduce pressure on local investors and open up opportunities that are unavailable to foreign investors to complete the development process in line with the conditions sought by His Highness the Prime Minister. Over the past two years, solid foundations have been laid for restoring the state’s prestige. The political leadership has adopted reform as its paramount objective. This has enabled the government to operate without external obstacles that might arise from the interference of certain parties that previously sought to achieve private interests at the expense of the public interest.
Unfortunately, however, some government agencies have failed to heed the directives of the political leadership and have not worked to accelerate development, which is not limited to the maintenance of streets and roads, which is a daily task within the mandate of each government entity. Sustainable development concerns both people and infrastructure, and requires a full understanding of the importance of prioritizing the public interest, even in the smallest decisions. This necessitates moving beyond the narrow confines of self-serving actions that benefit specific individuals and embracing the broader national interest.
The solution does not lie in decisions that hinder projects serving narrow individual interests, but rather in unlocking potential to maximize gross domestic product. Some directives have been issued that do not serve the national economy.
For example, the decision to prohibit the sale or transfer of industrial plots hinders one of the most important steps in development. How can a beneficiary prevent a citizen from selling their usufruct rights after investing their money and effort in developing the plot for 30, 40, or even 50 years? A beneficiary may, for some reason, wish to relinquish the property, while at the same time wanting it to continue under new management. Kuwait lacks complementary industries, especially in the food sector, which requires agricultural resources to support manufacturing.
However, when farmers face numerous obstacles, they leave their land fallow, ultimately leading to increased reliance on imported agricultural products. Everyone noticed the importance of agricultural holdings, especially during the recent war and the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, however, agricultural holdings have not been utilized optimally.
The reason is that some officials are influenced by the recurring question - “Why does so-and-so get a plot and I don’t?” Is this the reason behind preventing citizens from disposing of their agricultural holdings? Envy does not build a capable and strong nation. Unfortunately, this problem is widespread in various aspects of Kuwaiti life, and I have addressed it frequently. The proposal for the state to purchase the debts of those unable to repay was met with the flimsy argument of “social justice,” which has contributed to numerous economic and social problems since the “Al- Manakh Stock Market” crisis to the present day.
This issue must be addressed from a wide-angle perspective and with a forward-looking vision. Serious efforts must be made to maximize national output and establish a solid economic foundation. Kuwait is rich in creative individuals who need only opportunity. These creative individuals are present in all sectors, including banks, major corporations, and others. When these institutions have sought foreign expertise, they have managed to position Kuwait as a pioneering state in several fields, representing a form of soft power that serves Kuwait on the world stage. We must consider some facts. We have large commercial banks with substantial investments abroad, in addition to vast amounts of cash.
However, these banks are restricted locally. Kuwait possesses large oil reserves, in addition to an important and sensitive strategic location. These assets serve major development projects. Limiting the use of these tools and wasting time and effort in pursuing owners of industrial plots and agricultural holdings for minor violations hinders the progress of His Highness the Prime Minister in his development course.
