His Highness PM's visit to Italy "successful," says FM

By Mehdi Al-Nimr ROME, Sept 17 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister has praised the outcomes of the just-concluded visit to Italy made by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah as "successful." Ahead of the premier's departure on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah said the visit, which was aimed at boosting the wide facets of cooperation and was made in the company of a high-level delegation, reflects the depth of bilateral ties.
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber had paid a two-day visit to Italy, accompanied by Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, the Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh and the Oil Minister and State Minister for National Assembly Affairs Ali Al-Omair.
He had conveyed a written gesture from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to President Giorgio Napolitano, thanking the Italian leader for his warm sentiments expressed on the occasion of the UN's honouring of the Amir as a humanitarian leader.
The message also included an invitation for Napolitano to visit Kuwait, according to Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled.
Meanwhile, he said that Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber, during the talks, thanked his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi for Italy's support of plans to grant European Schengen zone entry permits to Kuwaiti citizens.
Italy currently chairs the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council.
Their talks, described as "fruitful," discussed bilateral ties, particularly economic which are currently witnessing a steady growth according to figures.
Kuwait's investments in Italy have more than quadrupled from EUR 1 billion in 2004 to EUR 4.5 billion currently, and the Arab Gulf nation is confident that the Italian economy will remain solid in spite of the effects of the financial crisis, he said.
He pointed out the huge oil-based partnership in the form of Kuwait Petroleum Italia - an affiliate of the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) - through refining and distribution along with the growing relationship currently being witnessed between Kuwaiti and Italian companies.
Discussions also delved into cooperation on the exchange of Italian military expertise in training and armament, along with educational and cultural cooperation, he added. (pickup previous) mn.sd