Kuwait port to help boost Iran trade 

(MENAFN - Arab Times) Kuwait will earmark a special port for Iranian imports in a bid to revive trade between the two major Gulf oil producers, Iran's IRNA news agency said on Sunday, during a rare visit to Tehran by a Kuwaiti premier. Trade between Kuwait, a Sunni-led US ally, and predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran, an old foe of Washington, has declined to about $100 million per year from $500 million in 2005, IRNA reported. It gave no reason for the downward trend.

"All the Kuwaiti doors will be open to imports of Iranian products and there will be a special port for the entry of Iranian products," IRNA quoted Kuwait's Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah as saying in Tehran. He did not provide further details, according to the IRNA report. His host, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, told the same news conference: "The Islamic Republic of Iran has opened its arms for the expansion of bilateral ties between the two friendly and fraternal neighbours."

Iran and Kuwait signed two memorandums of understanding (MOU) covering trade as well as water and electricity, IRNA said, without giving details. The two countries dispute the ownership of a gas field in the Gulf, Arash, but Rahimi and his guest called on Saturday for "cooperation in connection to the resolution of the continental shelf issue", Iran's state broadcaster reported. Iranian state television said after Sheikh Nasser arrived in Tehran on Saturday that it was the first visit to Tehran by a prime minister from the Gulf Arab state in more than 30 years. The aim was to boost political and economic ties, English-language Press TV added. Rahimi described on Sunday results of the visit of Sheikh Nasser to Iran as "fruitful and blessed."

Rahimi, in a statement to journalists at the conclusion of Sheikh Nasser's visit, said the mission was constructive and blessed, "during which the bilateral relations were discussed and two memoranda of understanding were signed between the two countries." The vice president said the two sides discussed many topics that concern that two states, including the cooperation in the sectors of politics, economy, water, gas, oil, power, commerce and investments, in addition to the establishment of a joint airways, a bank and granting entry facilities for Kuwaiti and Iranian citizens into the two countries.

The two sides agreed on forming a joint economic committee very soon, Rahimi added.

The visit was crowned with good results where "we agreed with our brothers of the State of Kuwait on taking great strides for sake of boosting the ties between us," and the Kuwaiti side expressed readiness to promote these relations at all levels, the senior Iranian official added.

He expressed gratitude to Sheikh Nasser for the "kind visit that open the gates for the promotion of the excellent relations between the two friendly Muslim countries." Sheikh Nasser, for his part, expressed gratitude to the Iranian authorities for according him and his delegation with the warm welcome, affirmed that the talks with the local officials dealt with means of cementing the bilateral relations and expressed hope that the level of mutual trade between the two countries would be elevated soon.

"The gates of Kuwait are open for the Iranian businessmen and Kuwait will offer them all necessary facilities for sake of hiking the level of economic and commercial cooperation," Sheikh Nasser said, indicating at the special port in Kuwait for taking delivery of Iranian products.

The two sides signed during the visit two memoranda of understanding for cooperation in the commercial, power and water sectors.

Sheikh Nasser met on Sunday with head of Iran's Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at his residence in Tehran. Sheikh Nasser in presence of his accompanying delegation, conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to the Iranian leader and best wishes for prosperity in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The visit of Sheikh Nasser to Iran paved the way for a planned visit by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the Islamic republic, anticipated within the coming months, the Kuwaiti ambassador said on Sunday.

Majdi Al-Thafiri, in remarks to KUNA, said the visit of HH Sheikh Nasser was distinguished by intensive talks that dealt with commercial, economic and technical cooperation. Sheikh Nasser during the mission played a key role for tackling all obstacles facing the efforts for the promotion of the cooperation between the two states at the economic and technical levels, he added.