Manama: Kuwait is to open five embassies in Africa and Asia as the country seeks new direct channels with other countries, a local daily has reported.
"The foreign ministry has decided to open embassies in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Gabon and Benin," diplomatic sources told Kuwaiti daily Al Jareeda.
"The decision to have more diplomatic missions abroad is in line with the implementation of a policy to turn Kuwait into a regional financial and business hub," the unnamed sources were quoted as saying.
The move will allow the foreign ministry to reach out to all the continents and to open up new direct political, economic and cultural channels of communication with a large number of countries, the sources said.
Kuwait this year announced the opening of 12 new embassies. Countries with no Kuwaiti representation are being covered by the Kuwaiti diplomatic missions in neighbouring states.
Kuwait currently has five embassies in Africa and 16 embassies and two consulates in Asia.
It has five embassies and two consulates in the Gulf Cooperation Council, eight diplomatic missions in the Arab countries, 21 in Europe, one in Australia, two in North America and two in South America.
