ROME - The 50th anniversary of Kuwait-italy friendship is an important moment to reflect on growing political convergences, says the Italian Foreign Minister, Paolo Gentiloni.

 “The long tradition of friendship and fruitful cooperation linking Italy and Kuwait are underlined by our frequent, cordial summit meetings that have confirmed the common wish to reinforce the historic ties between our two countries so as to give a further impetus to our already excellent collaboration,” Signor Gentiloni told The Italian Insider. 

 “Kuwait is, and has been for some time, one of the countries of most interest for the internationalisation of the Italian productive system,” he said in an interview. “Italy also provides a very attractive market and our Government’s policy of reforms  is creating conditions to favour economic development, including through more foreign investment.”

 “The 50th anniversary of our bilateral relations has marked an important moment for reflection, which during 2015 will be deepened at meetings of a mixed bilateral Commission in Rome, in which I will participate together with my Kuwaiti colleague … this will be an opportunity to underline our growing political convergences on regional themes and to explore the scope for further collaboration. In particular, we are profoundly satisfied with the reciprocal collaboration between our two respective Defence establishments, not only in the multilateral context in terms of combatting Daesh but also in terms of our privileged bilateral relationship.”      

 Signor Gentloni added that “the relationship between Italy and Kuwait is becoming of increasingly strategic value, not just at the level of Governments, but also for civil society. The prospects for developing our relations therefore concern increasingly the cultural and health sectors, and academic and professional training. That is why we are supporting with conviction in European institutions the liberalisation for Schengen visas in favour of Kuwaiti citizens.”

 Kuwait is without doubt one of the most important Arab countries to have adhered to the international coalition against Daesh, and in that context its collaboration with Italy, including at the military level, takes on a strategic character that is special in absolute. 

 Recalling that Italy has deployed Eurofighters in Kuwait for reconnaissance missions, the Italian foreign minister said: “Kuwait plays a leading role that is very much appreciated in countering jihadist propaganda. The prestige and authority that all of the Islamic world recognises  in Kuwait constitutes a formidable resource to draw on in spreading a message based on the authentic principles of peace, reciprocal respect and dialogue between the community of nations  on which the Muslim religion is based.  

  Full interview: 

  Italian Insider: What are your impressions of the first 50 years of collaboration, both diplomatic and economic, between Italy and Kuwait?

 Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni: The long tradition of friendship and fruitful cooperation linking Italy and Kuwait are underlined by our frequent, cordial summit meetings that have confirmed the common wish to reinforce the historic ties between our two countries so as to give a further impetus to our already excellent collaboration.

  

 I.I.: In recent years, Italy has made enormous efforts to promote and enhance these ties. Is 'diplomacy of growth' a priority?

 P.G.: Certainly. Kuwait is, and has been for some time, one of the countries of most interest for the internationalisation of the Italian productive system, taking into consideration the high levels of growth deriving from the exploitation of energy resources and Kuwait's strategy of diversifying its economy, offering significant opportunities not only for the oil and gas sector but for construction and plant machinery, as well as for Italian production of  precision engineering instruments and consumer goods.

  Italy also provides a very attractive market and our Government’s policy of reforms  is creating conditions to favour economic development, including through more foreign investment.

 

 I.I.: The recent visit to Rome by the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad ... to celebrate the 50th anniversary between the two countries, is a positive signal of the understanding between the two countries. What are the cornerstones of this co-operation? 

 P.G.: The 50th anniversary of our bilateral relations has marked an important moment for reflection, which during 2015 will be deepened at meetings of a mixed bilateral Commission in Rome, in which I will participate together with my Kuwaiti colleague. In addition to the economic questions (starting with the energy, infrastructure and financial sectors), this will be an opportunity to underline our growing political convergences on regional themes and to explore the scope for further collaboration. In particular, we are profoundly satisfied with the reciprocal collaboration between our two respective Defence establishments, not only in the multilateral context in terms of combatting Daesh but also in terms of our privileged bilateral relationship.

      

 I.I.: What has changed compared to the past? And above all what new horizons are being explored?

 P.G.: The relationship between Italy and Kuwait is becoming of increasingly strategic value, not just at the level of Governments, but also for civil society. The prospects for developing our relations therefore concern increasingly the cultural and health sectors, and academic and professional training. That is why we are supporting with conviction in European institutions the liberalisation for Schengen visas in favour of Kuwaiti citizens.

 

 I.I.: Italy has recently sent Eurofighters to Kuwait, where at they are carrying out reconaissance missions against the ‘Islamist Caliphate’ as part of Allied efforts to smash the extremist movement in Iraq and Syria. Can Kuwait be considered Italy’s principal ally in the battle against Isis? 

 P.G.: The advance of Daesh in recent months caused strong concern in the entire region, and from the start we found ourselves in great symphony with the Kuwaiti leaders in believing it necessary to find above all a political solution to the Iraq crisis.

 Kuwait is without doubt one of the most important Arab countries to have adhered to the international coalition against Daesh, and in that context its collaboration with Italy, including at the military level, takes on a strategic character that is special in absolute. 

 Kuwait plays a leading role that is very much appreciated in countering jihadist propaganda. The prestige and authority that all of the Islamic world recognises  in Kuwait constitutes a formidable resource to draw on in spreading a message based on the authentic principles of peace, reciprocal respect and dialogue between the community of nations  on which the Muslim religion is based.

  

 I.I.: The preparation of the Kuwait stand for Expo2015, the recent financial operations through FSI joint venture investments, the numerous contracts won in Kuwait by Italian construction companies – when the accounts are done, are you satisfied with these recent developments? And if the answer is yes, how do you envisage future cooperation between the two countries developing?

 P.G.: We are very satisfied: Kuwait was one of the first countries to confirm participation at the Milan 2015 Expo and to subscribe in October 2012, on the occasion of the Participants Meeting of Expo Milano 2015, to the contract of participation to the extent of being among the first 15 signatory countries. The Pavilion, which will be developed in one of bigger dimension plots of the entire exhibition site will have as its theme “Challenge of Nature” and will concentrate on the capacity to integrate the challenges of the management of water, on the production and transmission of energy and the effects on agriculture. 

 These are very promising sectors for the development of our future collaboration," Signor Gentiloni told the Italian Insider.

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