KUWAIT: COMMENTS ON MEPI FY 2003 FUNDING

UNCLAS KUWAIT 005734 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL KMPI KPAO ECON KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT: COMMENTS ON MEPI FY 2003 FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS REF: A. SECSTATE 337476 ¶B. KUWAIT 2949 ¶C. KUWAIT 5373 ¶D. KUWAIT 5370 ¶1. (U) Embassy Kuwait welcomes the outline of FY 2003 funding recommendations for MEPI programs (Ref A),and seeks inclusion in a number of those programs. Comments on each pillar are given below. ¶2. (U) ECONOMIC PILLAR. Post will actively promote any MEPI projects to reduce trade barriers between Kuwait and the US, and among Middle Eastern nations. Kuwait will be signing a TIFA with the US in 2004, and the Government of Kuwait (GOK) is eager to receive technical assistance on trade issues. The GOK hopes to send representatives to participate in the MEPI-sponsored GCC trade compliance workshops to be held in 2004, as well as to the US Patent and Trademark Office's Intellectual Property Rights Muscat seminar scheduled for January 2004. It is likely that the GOK would be willing to share costs of future technical assistance programs. In December, the Kuwaitis received the interagency banking supervision team that traveled to the region as part of the Partnership for Financial Excellence. While the Kuwaitis expressed an interest in sending their banking supervisors to receive on-the-job training in more advanced economies, it was also apparent that Kuwaiti banking supervisors have skills that could benefit less developed economies in the region through a similar regional exchange. Post would also welcome the chance for Kuwaiti business executives and managers to participate in the Middle East Entrepreneur Training program. Such a program would help to strengthen Kuwait's private sector and advance one of Embassy Kuwait's Economic Pillar goals: reducing the role of government in the economy (Ref B). ¶3. (U) POLITICAL PILLAR. Post has a strong interest in participating in the regional parliamentary strengthening program. Kuwait's National Assembly could benefit from institutional development support, training and exchanges. We believe there is strong local interest in initiatives to strengthen the institutional capacity, research and information technology capabilities of the National Assembly's Department of Research and Studies, and to promote increased parliamentary educational and informational exchanges. We also would like to be included in any regional programs focused on good governance and commercial law. ¶4. (U) EDUCATION PILLAR. Kuwait hopes to tap into either regional or country-specific MEPI funds under the "Partnership Schools" initiative to support our prior request for $150,000 to support two ESL summer camp programs for non-elite Kuwaiti youth in the 12-16 age range (Ref C). We also seek support for our request for approximately $28,000 (Ref D) to bring a representative of Junior Achievement International to Kuwait to consult with NGOs, government officials and the business community to assess the viability of a Junior Achievement chapter here. All our efforts need to take account of Kuwaiti sensitivities about perceived US intervention in national education issues, and these programs have been designed with that in mind. ¶5. (U) WOMEN'S PILLAR. Kuwait has a strong interest in participating in the MEPI Business Internship Program for Young Women and Middle East Women's Business and Leadership conferences. Numerous Kuwaiti women are active in the private sector but continue to face legal, social and other obstacles to business advancement. Many could benefit from focused business leadership initiatives. Post is also particularly interested in programs to raise awareness among more conservative women in Kuwait about women's legal rights and constraints. In FY 03, post requested and received approval for MEPI Democracy Small Grants funding to conduct a gender budgeting study in collaboration with a local NGO. Post hopes to conduct this study in early 2004. There is also strong interest locally in a related potential initiative to analyze government sector wages by gender in an effort to broaden grassroots understanding and awareness among Kuwaiti women, particularly Bedouin women, about their legal rights and status. Post is also working with IIP on recruiting a women's rights activist/political action campaign expert who can assess the needs of a nascent women's NGO in Kuwait that seeks to modify an administrative law that discriminates against women and children. MORAN