10/8/2014
Visiting Minister H.E. Ms. Al-Sabeeh Inspects Japan’s Redeveloped Waterfront

YOKOHAMA, Oct 8 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of State for Development and Planning Affairs and Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Al-Sabeeh on Wednesday visited the revamped large-scale waterfront in Tokyo's vicinity, where she inspected modern urban development.

According to Urban Renaissance Agency (UR), which started the project in Yokohama, Japan's second-biggest city after Tokyo, in 1983 at the request of the local governments, the Minato Mirai 21 district covers the 186-hectare land. Minato Mirai 21 literally means "future port of the 21st century."

Facing Yokohama Port, one of Japan's top international trading ports with a 150-year history, Minato Mirai accommodates more than 1,700 companies with 93,000 workers, commercial facilities, hotels, amusement parks, convention facilities, museums and concert halls. The revamped waterfront attracts more than 74 million visitors every year, according to UR.

At the meeting with UR President Ikuo Kaminishi, the minister said, "We hope to enhance relationship with the Japanese side in all aspects. We are expecting a lot of benefits from Japan's expertise."

Later on the day, the minister visited the headquarters of JGC Corporation at Minato Mirai, Yokohama City, and discussed on future coordination between Kuwait and the company.

At their meeting, the minister and Chairman Emeritus Yoshihiro Shigehisa discussed the prospects for future cooperation, especially in energy and infrastructure projects under Kuwait's national development plan for 2015-2020.

The two sides exchanged views on possible cooperation in program management and consultation works for some projects under the development plan.

Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Kuwait TV after the meeting, Al-Sabeeh said, "Today's meeting was very fruitful. As JGC is world's leading engineering company, we hope to promote cooperative ties in large-scale projects".

For his part, Shigemitsu said, "The new Kuwait Development Plan will start soon. We actively exchanged ideas about potential cooperation between Kuwait and JGC in the future, including solar generation and environmental projects. We are ready to offer anything that would make contributions to the development of Kuwait".

The delegation that visited Yokohama City included Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi, Secretary-General of the Kuwaiti Supreme Council for Planning and Development Hashim Al-Rifai and other officials. (end)
By Miyoko Ishigami (with photos)