Kuwait’s relief aid to be limited to home-made products

Cairo: The Kuwaiti government has ordered relief groups to make sure that their humanitarian assistance is confined to products made at home.

Under royal directives, the Kuwaiti Council of Ministers has issued a decree obligating the Red Crescent Society, civil society groups, and all government institutions concerned with providing in-kind aid to ensure that their assistance of all types must be national products manufactured inside Kuwait and bearing the state’s emblem, according to Al Jarida newspaper.

The Kuwaiti government said in a circular to all sides concerned with aid that it had reviewed at a recent meeting a royal court letter, which included a reference to royal directives on the necessity of issuing a related Cabinet decision and cited an example of national products as those of the state-owned Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company.

The measure “contributes to strengthening the role and position of the State of Kuwait in humanitarian work and leaving a positive impression on the beneficiaries of this aid,” the circular was quoted as saying.

“It will also help activate the national industries and increase their value in the Kuwaiti economy, especially in the food industry sector.”

The royal court underlined the importance of thoroughly reviewing the government decision before its issuance from all legal and financial aspects as well as its oversight mechanism to “tighten monitoring over its implementation in the right and required manner so that it would achieve all its desired objectives”.

Kuwait features prominently among leaders of global humanitarian work.