Guyana, Kuwait to sign five agreements

Guyana and Kuwait are to sign five bilateral agreements when the prime minister of that country, Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al Ahmed Al-Jaber Al Sabah, visits this week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed.

The Kuwaiti PM is expected here tomorrow for a brief visit.

In a statement issued yesterday the ministry said the prime minister will be accompanied by high ranking officials of his government including a senior minister in the office of the Emir, the Deputy Prime Minister, ministers of Finance and Commerce, and private sector members.

“While in Guyana, the Prime Minister and delegation will conduct discussions with President Bharrat Jagdeo and senior government officials,” the release said.

Nasser is currently on an official tour of the Caribbean and Latin America and his visit to Guyana follows Jagdeo’s to Kuwait in January when the parties signed two cooperation agreements and a Memoran-dum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of official talks.

Kuwait News Agency had reported that Minister of Oil and Information Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah signed an agreement to bolster cultural ties between the two countries with Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, while Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shimali and Rodrigues-Birkett signed an agreement on encouraging bilateral investments.

The MoU, on political consultations, was signed by the Guyanese foreign minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

Upon his return to Guyana President Jagdeo had disclosed that following a meeting with the Kuwait Fund, Guyana had agreed to do a feasibility study and submit a project proposal for an infrastructure project up to US$10 million. He had said infrastructure in the housing sector was likely one of the areas where the funds would be directed.
In February the two countries held a second round of negotiations to finalise an agreement regarding the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion.

The double taxation agreement will ensure that no resident of Guyana or Kuwait pays the same taxes twice on remuneration or money which attracts taxation in either country.

Talks on the agreement started in October 2005.