Kuwait, Egypt explore new labor recruitment mechanism

Kuwait: Following a thorough study of the local labor market needs and demographic structure, Kuwait is set to reopen recruitment from Egypt soon, said Egyptian Ambassador to Kuwait Ossama Shaltout. This announcement was made during a meeting with a local media delegation on Saturday, which focused on the latest agreements established during the recent 13th session of the Egypt-Kuwait Joint Supreme Committee held earlier this month.

During the session, he said that Egypt has introduced a new online platform designed to connect employers with skilled labor, aiming to facilitate the hiring process by verifying workers’ qualifications and certifications, ultimately improving recruitment efficiency. The platform, he said, has already demonstrated success in other Arab and Gulf countries.

This move goes in line with Kuwait’s efforts to recruit skilled foreign labor that matches the needs of the labor market. Shaltout mentioned that Egypt’s Minister of Labor welcomed the Kuwaiti delegation at the Labor and Workforce Committee, where the platform’s features and operations were thoroughly explained. It was also agreed that a technical delegation from Kuwait would visit Egypt to learn more about the platform.

As a result of the bilateral agreements, Shaltout highlighted that total Kuwaiti investments in Egypt now stand at approximately $20 billion. During the latest discussions, he added that Egypt’s leadership encouraged further Kuwaiti investments through providing a range of incentives, including the “Golden License,” which is granted to companies that are established to implement strategic or national projects contributing to achieve sustainable development.

In a separate meeting between Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, Shaltout expressed their mutual eagerness to address and resolve challenges facing Kuwaiti investors in Egypt. For instance, the Egyptian government has assured granting the necessary permits and licenses for strategic investment projects within only a week of proposal submission.

Kuwaiti investments are expected to grow in coming years, particularly in oil and gas, manufacturing, and tourism, said the ambassador. He added that Egypt is also ready to leverage its extensive experience in infrastructure to implement new projects in Kuwait, similar to successful initiatives undertaken in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq.

22 new bilateral agreements

To bolster business connections, Shaltout noted that the joint committee has also agreed to establish regular exchanges between private sector businessmen from both countries. The Egypt-Kuwait Cooperation Council, co-chaired by Mohammad Jassem Al-Saqer from Kuwait and Ibrahim Al-Araby from Egypt, will play a pivotal role in these efforts. A meeting with the council is scheduled for next Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the investment sector.

The ambassador also reported that negotiations for 22 new bilateral agreements between Kuwait and Egypt are progressing well and are expected to be signed during the 14th session of the Joint Supreme Commission, set to take place in Kuwait next year.

More travel opportunities

In line with these developments, Shaltout highlighted the existing electronic visa system and the five-year multiple-entry visa to Egypt for Kuwaiti citizens and other nationalities, which aim to facilitate travel for both tourists and businesspeople.

Tourism between Egypt and Kuwait is poised to expand further, with both countries agreeing to increase flight capacity, said Shaltout. He highlighted tourism destinations that are gaining more attention among people in Kuwait, such as Alamein and the North Coast. Regarding the travel of stateless people, or “bedoon” to Egypt, the two countries have agreed to permit entry only for those seeking medical treatment or educational opportunities, as is the case for bedoon who want to travel to other countries.