NEW YORK, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- Kuwait plans to host very soon a conference for supporting education in Somalia as part of a broad approach aimed at backing nations of the African continent.
Deputy of the permanent delegate to the UN, Badr Abdullah Al-Mnaikh, has called on the international community, government associations and NGOs to help peoples of Africa attain development and shore up their countries' economies.
He was addressing a session about development in Africa; held as part of the 72nd session of the United National General Assembly (UNGA).
Kuwait, which has maintained bonds with the African States for many years, hosted in 2013 the Third Arab-African Summit, during which His Highness the Amir's initiative to grant soft loans to African countries was announced.
Moreover, Kuwait during that summit declared investing USD one billion in Africa; in coordination with the World Bank and other agencies. Kuwait Fund for Economic Development's loans to Africa has amounted to 81 percent of its total loans to nations in need -- USD 20 billion.
Furthermore, Al-Mnaikh pointed out, Kuwait specialized an annual award worth USD one million, in the name of the late Kuwaiti philanthropist, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait.
The latter had dedicated many years of his life for charitable aid in Africa.
The Kuwaiti envoy voiced concern at future of Africa's plans to boost development and resolve key issues such as safeguarding women rights and ridding the continent of strifes. (end) asf.rk