H.H. the Amir''s initiative to support fund for Arab firms commended 12/7/2009

Ambassador Sheikh Ali Khaled Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who heads the Kuwaiti delegation at the ongoing Japan-Arab Economic Forum, emphasized on Monday the initiative of H.H. the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to establish a support fund for small and medium-sized companies in Arab nations. The agreement was announced in the chair's summary after the ministerial session of the first Japan-Arab Economic Forum held in Tokyo.
The initiative of H.H. the Amir to establish a support fund, with a capital estimated at USD two billion, for small and medium-sized companies in the League of Arab States member states was commended during Monday's ministerial meeting of the forum, in which the Arab side confirmed the importance of developing small and medium-sized companies in the league.
Co-Chairman of the forum Ambassador Sheikh Ali, who is also Director of Foreign Ministry's Economic Department, urged the Kuwaiti private sector and businessmen to participate and contribute effectively and meaningfully in the programs of workshops, seminars and bilateral meetings with major Japanese companies and businessmen who have a desire to invest in Kuwait. He also highlighted the role of the Japanese private sector in Kuwait and Kuwaiti businessmen in the areas of economic and trade cooperation of different types and ranges between the two countries.
Ahead of the two-day forum, Sheikh Ali and the Charge d'affaires at the Kuwaiti Embassy in Japan Mohamed Al-Mutairi attended the signing ceremony of MOU on between the Japanese government and the 22-member states on the establishment of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum. The ceremony was also attended by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Masayuki Naoshima. During his talks with Okada and Naoshima on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Sheikh Ali expressed the strong desire of the Kuwaiti leadership to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations. He also told Japanese ministers that Kuwait is keen to expand the bilateral relationship from oil cooperation to other areas that will benefit from Japan's technological and scientific experiences. He also said Kuwait attaches importance to Japan because of historical ties between the two countries, which they will jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2011.