Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Ambassador Nayef Al-Mudhaf, Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to Kuwait Prof. Baderou Dine Aguemon and officials at the cake-cutting ceremony.

KUWAIT CITY, July 30: Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Ambassador Nayef Al-Mudhaf said the relationship between Kuwait and Benin spans more than 50 years, characterized by strong ties and fruitful cooperation in many areas. In a statement to the press when he attended the recent celebration of the 65th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Benin, Al-Mudhaf disclosed that the two countries signed 11 agreements, including the skilled labor agreement; in addition to the existence of a joint committee, ongoing political consultations, and other agreements that support the frameworks of bilateral cooperation.

Al-Mudhaf disclosed that the Republic of Benin opened its embassy in Kuwait in 2009, while Kuwait opened its embassy in Cotonou in 2012, a manifestation of the strength of bilateral relations. He confirmed that coordination is underway to arrange the visit of the Benin Foreign Affairs Minister to the State of Kuwait, which will be announced in due course. Regarding the domestic worker agreement, Al-Mudhaf explained that it is still under negotiation between the two sides, hoping that an agreement will be reached soon. He added that the number of Benin citizens in Kuwait exceeds 10,000, and most of them are domestic workers.

He pointed out that Kuwait, through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), has so far provided 14 development loans to the Republic of Benin, a total of around KD42 million. He asserted this reflects the depth of the development partnership between the two countries. On the other hand, Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to Kuwait Prof. Baderou Dine Aguemon pointed out that the 65th anniversary of his country’s independence is a glorious national occasion to celebrate not only freedom and sovereignty, but also the collective commitment of Benin to move toward a more prosperous, peaceful, and internationally cooperative future. He emphasized that the new Republic of Benin is open and ambitious, ready to forge fruitful strategic partnerships with sisterly and friendly countries, especially Kuwait. He said the Beninese Embassy in Kuwait is ready to serve the community and provide the necessary support to anyone wishing to learn about the opportunities available in his country, urging everyone to contact the embassy whenever necessary.

He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled for their support and commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. He appreciated the warm welcome and the joint efforts to develop cooperation between Benin and Kuwait. He added that cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Benin is a model worthy of emulation in terms of relations between the Arab world and sub-Saharan Africa, stressing that the future holds broad prospects for a constructive partnership that serves the aspirations of the two friendly peoples.

By Fares Ghaleb
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff