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