The article titled “Repetition Doesn’t Teach the Wise” in Al-Jarida newspaper by our colleague Hassan Al-Essa was spot on, in terms of accurately diagnosing the local economic situation. He effectively analyzed the main points highlighted in the Al-Shall reports. However, we must remind our colleague that this current outcry is not new. For years, a significant portion of the population and various observers have been warning about the consequences of inaction. We have repeatedly identified the root causes of these problems.
Timely intervention could have spared the country huge difficulties. Even a delayed remedy is better than allowing the economic situation to worsen. We fully agree with our colleague Al-Essa. For instance, take agriculture, food production, and the pursuit of food self-sufficiency. These are vital necessities for every nation, not just Kuwait.
The same principle applies to the industrial and service sectors. When the government allocated agricultural land to citizens, the primary goal was to achieve food self-sufficiency or, at the very least, secure a reliable domestic supply. This would reduce dependence on food imports, following the example of other countries that strategically use their land to support the national economy and develop a food processing industry.
The land, initially barren desert, was transformed by its owners through construction, cultivation, development, investment, and the employment of workers. The government’s decree regulating agricultural tourism was welcomed with optimism. However, in recent years, the situation has declined. The responsible authorities have stopped providing essential support, placing a heavy burden on farmers. These benefits were crucial for offsetting high electricity and water costs, particularly as treated wastewater continues to be wasted into the sea.
Furthermore, the absence of a regulatory framework prevents farmers from selling their produce properly in the local market, posing a threat to food security. Consequently, they are often forced to sell their crops at minimal prices, sometimes barely covering the cost of the packaging. Despite their persistence, farmers’ appeals for assistance have grown increasingly desperate. A positive development occurred following the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior’s visit to some farms, leading to the decision to establish a “Farmers’ Corner” in cooperative societies. However, this measure alone is not enough. The authorities must address numerous outstanding issues to ensure the successful and sustainable operation of agricultural production.
For decades, the advancement of agricultural technology and related field developments has been a recurring topic in the media, promising a path toward more sophisticated agriculture. However, achieving this potential requires strong incentives, particularly in the area of licensing. It is counterproductive to expect farmers, whether in crop cultivation or industrial agriculture, to invest substantial capital when licenses are limited to just one year. Moreover, the risk that even a minor violation could result in restrictive measures or the closure of their operation serves as a major deterrent to investment. Kuwait’s economic environment has changed dramatically. There was a time when we could easily export goods like strawberries and roses, thanks to greater freedom of movement and strong incentives. Today, however, the situation is clouded by troubling decisions.
These concerns have been repeatedly highlighted in reports by Al- Shall and others, yet despite ongoing discussions, little action has been taken. As one colleague rightly pointed out, the priority must be to curb the outflow of domestic investment. Kuwait remains heavily oil-dependent, grappling with an unproductive economy, unsustainable public finances, and an imbalanced national labor market. The pressing question is whether the country’s leadership will finally learn and take the necessary measures. To my dear colleague Hassan Al- Essa, the current stagnation is the inevitable outcome of having officials who neither listen nor review written recommendations.
This stands in stark contrast to other nations, where every aspect is carefully monitored, and there is a genuine commitment to adopt practices that benefit the owners of productive institutions, profitable projects, and those entitled to service plots. Neighboring countries, for instance, have offered substantial incentives to attract global investors. They have revitalized multiple sectors and even transformed agricultural land into tourist destinations. By learning from international experiences, they have become exporters of agricultural products to the region, a foresight that now attracts hundreds of millionaires. Yet, what has our state done to emulate these successful models? Nothing. Instead, we witness only a proliferation of decisions that serve merely to create additional obstacles
