Korea-Kuwait Foreign Ministers Talk... Kuwait "Positive Review on Businessmen's Entry Exceptions"

Minister Ahmed Requests Purchase of Korean Diagnostic Kits and Medical Supplies

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the morning of the 1st, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held a phone call at the request of Ahmed Nasser Muhammad Al-Sabah, Kuwait's Foreign Minister, exchanging views on exceptional entry permits for our businesspeople facing difficulties due to Kuwait's entry ban and on bilateral cooperation measures to respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

In response to Minister Kang's request for cooperation in permitting entry for our businesspeople, Minister Ahmed conveyed the Kuwaiti government's position that it would positively consider exceptional entry for our business workers whose entry to Kuwait is urgently necessary for business purposes, on the condition that they comply with requirements such as COVID-19 diagnostic tests before and after entry, following consultations with relevant authorities.

As COVID-19 rapidly spread, the Kuwaiti government banned all foreign entries and completely suspended flights starting from the 11th (local time). The Korean government received reports of difficulties faced by our companies due to this measure and requested the Kuwaiti government for exceptional entry permits through various channels, including sending letters under the names of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Minister Kang expressed gratitude in response and replied that the close economic cooperation between Korea and Kuwait would develop even more firmly.

Minister Ahmed highly evaluated Korea's COVID-19 response capabilities and requested the Korean government's cooperation for the purchase of Korean diagnostic kits and other medical supplies as well as sharing quarantine response capabilities. Minister Kang responded that she would cooperate to the maximum extent possible within the feasible scope.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "The two ministers agreed to use cooperation to overcome COVID-19 as an opportunity to further expand health cooperation and to strive to strengthen the comprehensive, future-oriented, and mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries."