LOC12:55
09:55 GMT
KUWAIT, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- The Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK)
Sheikh Salem Abdelaziz Al-Sabah confirmed, Monday, his resignation from the
post.
In an exclusive to KUNA on this issue, the outgoing official pointed out
that, "the challenge of current local economic conditions and forecast growth
in public expenditure has reached a point where it would prevent the CBK from
carrying out its duties as stated in the bill of its establishment."
Sheikh Salem stressed that he spared no effort to stress the urgent need
for addressing main structural imbalances which are harming the national
economy, topped by increases of unprecedented and unsustainable levels in
public expenditure. This directly affects the bank's ability to do its job,
which is to maintain factors of monetary and financial stability of our
national economy, he said.
The outgoing top banker remarked that while his efforts met support and
approval, there is yet to be real action and measures to steer monetary reform
as gateway to the aspired economic reform. As a result, structural imbalances
increased in severity, and the risks involved are on the rise, even if
temporarily masked by high oil prices at the present time.
"I express my thanks to all finance ministers I worked with in my long
career, as well as all members of the board of the Central Bank of Kuwait,
past and present, who helped me perform my duty and actively contributed to
all policies and decisions adopted by the bank.
"I would also like to express my esteem and gratitude to all those who
worked with me as part of the CBK team all these years, both managers and
staff, whose support played a role in the development of the bank and in its
unique achievements in all fields," Sheikh Salem concluded.(end)
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KUNA 131255 Feb 12NNNN