By Adnan Al-Failkawi, NNN-KUNA
Kuwait : Kuwait celebrates Monday 47 years of independence, and many achievements have been realized not only in the political sphere, but also in education and health care systems, as well social development.
Soon after Kuwait’s independence on June 19, 1961, parliamentary life began once the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah ratified the constitution in November 1962 and the first elections were held in January 23, 1963.
Since becoming an independent state, Kuwait sought balanced foreign policies that were always aimed at world peace and development, which is why the Gulf state observed conventions of the UN and its organizations, as well as those of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
At the international level, Kuwait contributes to efforts of the international community for economic and social development, while at the Gulf level it seeks stability and economic integration. At the Arab level, there are many issues that Kuwait supports, the most important being the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, not forgetting stability in Iraq and other regional issues of concern.
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) is considered the economic arm of the country’s foreign policies. In 1970-2005, the fund presented USD 415 million in development aid to Arab countries, accounting for 25 percent of total assistance presented by all Arab states. Since establishment in 1961, the fund presented 731 loans worth USD 3.734 billion to Arab, Asian, African and Latin American states.
As for the country’s exports, official statistics indicate that in 2000-2005 this was worth KD 861.989 billion of which KD 307.296 were to GCC states and the rest went to different countries of the world. As for imports, the Central Bank of Kuwait indicates that this was at KD 4.7 million in 2005.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, out of keenness for boosting the country’s economy, called for free economy, thus removing obstacles faced by local and international investors in an aim to transform the country into a regional financial and commercial center.
In the education sector, emphasis on the importance of developing curricula and the educational system resulted in holding the National Education Development Conference in response to a call by His Highness the Amir on February 17-19 of this year.
Health care is another area that has been greatly developed, with services presented free of charge to citizens and at symbolic prices for expatriates. The state also cares for those with special needs and provides the necessary medical and educational facilities for them.
Women have played a role in the development of the country in all fields, long before they attained their full political rights on May 16, 2005.
Planning Ministry statistics indicate a rise in Kuwait’s population from 2, 991,189 in 2005 to 3,182,960 in 2006 at an increase of 6.4 percent. The number of Kuwaitis went from 992,217 to 1,023,316 during the same period, or 3.1 percent. The number of expatriates went up from 1,998,972 to 2,159,644 or 8.0 percent.
The percentage of Kuwaitis under 15 years of age was at 39.9 percent in December 2006, while those above 60 was at 4.7 percent.
Sheikh Sabah noted in the speech he delivered when taking his duties as Amir of the country in January 2006 that a leader cannot succeed without true cooperation from his people, and expressed confidence that it was through the people that the country would advance and prosper, and aspirations would be achieved.