KUWAIT ABOUNDS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS,

UNCLAS KUWAIT 005077 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON FOR TSOU USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ANE/COBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON BEXP KLTN PIN KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT ABOUNDS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, ACCORDING TO MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS ¶1. During a December 7 meeting, Minister of Public Works Bader N. Al-Humaidi informed the Ambassador that the State of Kuwait is moving forward on a number of infrastructure projects deemed as top priorities to the Government of Kuwait (GOK). The Minister complimented U.S. architectural and civil engineering companies involved in transportation and major commercial projects, but suggested that more U.S. construction companies should be engaged in these projects, given limited capacity of the domestic firms. The Ambassador stated that the Embassy, through the Commercial Section, would engage U.S. civil construction companies to generate greater interest in the growing Kuwaiti civil and infrastructure construction sector. ¶2. The Minister stated that the key projects for Kuwait included completion of three sewage and water waste treatment facilities, the construction of the 8th Ring Road, the construction of a multi-lane carriageway connecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the State of Iraq, the Bubiyan Island port, the causeway connection of Bubiyan to the Kuwait mainland, and the Failaka Island development project, which includes 2,500 hotel rooms, private chalets/villas, and transportation infrastructure. The Minister reflected on U.S. civil engineering support on these projects, noting Hill International's consulting work on Failaka and Parsons Brinckerhoff's work on highway infrastructure (first ring road) as exemplary. ¶3. On a related topic, Al-Humaidi reported that the Prime Minister was highly enthusiastic about the construction and foreign management of a 1,000-bed hospital and critical care facility. The Minister noted that private health care services are growing in Kuwait, and that the GOK is keen on establishing a world-class facility to serve patients from Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council and beyond. The Ambassador offered his support in contacting the Cleveland Clinic's Chairman of the Board of Governors and CEO. Opportunities are present in both the management of the hospital as well as the supply of high-end medical and surgical technologies and equipment. ******************************************** Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** LEBARON