US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT5077

UNCLAS KUWAIT 005077 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ANE/COBERG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, BEXP, KLTN, PIN, KU 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT ABOUNDS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, 
ACCORDING TO MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS 
 
1.  During a December 7 meeting, Minister of Public Works 
Bader N. Al-Humaidi informed the Ambassador that the State of 
Kuwait is moving forward on a number of infrastructure 
projects deemed as top priorities to the Government of Kuwait 
(GOK).  The Minister complimented U.S. architectural and 
civil engineering companies involved in transportation and 
major commercial projects, but suggested that more U.S. 
construction companies should be engaged in these projects, 
given limited capacity of the domestic firms.  The Ambassador 
stated that the Embassy, through the Commercial Section, 
would engage U.S. civil construction companies to generate 
greater interest in the growing Kuwaiti civil and 
infrastructure construction sector. 
 
2.  The Minister stated that the key projects for Kuwait 
included completion of three sewage and water waste treatment 
facilities, the construction of the 8th Ring Road, the 
construction of a multi-lane carriageway connecting the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the State of Iraq, the Bubiyan 
Island port, the causeway connection of Bubiyan to the Kuwait 
mainland, and the Failaka Island development project, which 
includes 2,500 hotel rooms, private chalets/villas, and 
transportation infrastructure.  The Minister reflected on 
U.S. civil engineering support on these projects, noting Hill 
International's consulting work on Failaka and Parsons 
Brinckerhoff's work on highway infrastructure (first ring 
road) as exemplary. 
 
3.  On a related topic, Al-Humaidi reported that the Prime 
Minister was highly enthusiastic about the construction and 
foreign management of a 1,000-bed hospital and critical care 
facility.  The Minister noted that private health care 
services are growing in Kuwait, and that the GOK is keen on 
establishing a world-class facility to serve patients from 
Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council and beyond.  The 
Ambassador offered his support in contacting the Cleveland 
Clinic's Chairman of the Board of Governors and CEO. 
Opportunities are present in both the management of the 
hospital as well as the supply of high-end medical and 
surgical technologies and equipment. 
 
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Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
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LEBARON