KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Director General of Civil Aviation, Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Al-Sabah, met on Wednesday with Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdel Samad Qayouh, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in civil aviation. Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after the meeting, Sheikh Hamoud said the discussions focused on developing air operations between the two countries to support connectivity, improve service efficiency, and strengthen safety and security standards. The two sides also highlighted the importance of exchanging technical expertise, cooperating in training and capacity building, and coordinating positions in regional and international civil aviation forums to advance common interests and ensure sustainable growth of the sector.
Both parties emphasized their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and activating joint cooperation frameworks to keep pace with rapid developments in the aviation industry and promote Arab integration in this vital sector. Sheikh Hamoud expressed gratitude to Morocco for its technical support during the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit of Kuwait’s aviation safety procedures, praising the gesture as a reflection of the strong historical ties between the two countries.
Assistant Director General of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Emad Al-Zaid
Participants attend the Kuwaiti-Moroccan Business Forum. – KUNA photos
Representatives from modern Moroccan companies operating in the food industry sector.
The visit followed Sheikh Hamoud’s participation on Tuesday in the 73rd meeting of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization in Rabat, where he headed Kuwait’s delegation alongside representatives from other Arab member states. Meanwhile, Moroccan Ambassador to Kuwait Ali Ben Issa reaffirmed Morocco’s keenness to strengthen cooperation between Moroccan and Kuwaiti companies and showcase investment opportunities in both countries. Speaking at the opening of the Kuwaiti-Moroccan Business Forum, which runs in Kuwait until December 19, Ben Issa said the event reflects the depth of historical relations between the two nations and aligns with the aspirations of their leaderships to elevate bilateral ties.
Organized by the National Federation of Moroccan Food Industries, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Al-Shall Consulting Company, the forum is the second this year, highlighting the growing momentum in economic relations. Ben Issa noted that Kuwaiti-financed projects and Moroccan investment opportunities across sectors such as automotive and aerospace, renewable energy, water projects, infrastructure, tourism and agriculture offer significant potential for cooperation.
Trade between Kuwait and Morocco has grown markedly in recent years. Moroccan exports to Kuwait rose to 217 million dirhams (around $23.6 million) in 2023–2024, compared with 97 million dirhams ($10.5 million) in 2022. Exports include passenger cars, steel and iron products, fresh fruits, tomatoes, seafood, cheeses, processed foods, and cosmetics, with agricultural products remaining a cornerstone of Morocco’s economy. Ambassador Ben Issa also highlighted Morocco’s growing appeal as a tourist and investment destination, recording some 18 million visitors by the end of November 2025, including an estimated 31,000 Kuwaiti tourists.
For his part, Assistant Director General of KCCI, Emad Al-Zaid, described Morocco as a strategic partner for Kuwaiti companies and stressed the importance of the forum in building a strong, diversified, and sustainable economic partnership. Al-Zaid noted Morocco’s economic transformation over the past two decades and called for enhanced focus on agri-food trade, which remains underdeveloped despite Morocco’s success in doubling global exports under initiatives such as the Green Morocco Plan and the Green Generation Strategy. The forum brought together leading business figures from Kuwait and Morocco, including representatives of Moroccan food industry companies with international certifications and extensive global market experience. — KUNA
