KUWAIT: Australian Ambassador to Kuwait Melissa Kelly reaffirmed the strength of Australia-Kuwait relations, adding that cooperation across key sectors, including food security, education and investment, continues to deepen. On the sidelines of a ceremony held on Tuesday marking Australia Day, the ambassador stated that Kuwait remains Australia’s largest investor in the Middle East, with estimated investments of around $13 billion. She said the true figure is likely significantly higher.
Ambassador Kelly indicated that trade between the two countries exceeds $500 million annually. She said Australia continues to supply Kuwait with key food products, including meat, wheat and vegetables. “Australian livestock shipments are ongoing during the winter months. There is a long-standing summer ban, but winter shipments continue as usual. We are seeing locally slaughtered Australian livestock available on Mawashi’s shelves, as well as an increasing amount of chilled, high-quality Australian meat,” she said.
In terms of Australians in Kuwait, she stated that there are approximately 1,000 Australians currently living in Kuwait, and that number has remained steady. She praised their contributions across sectors such as education, energy, engineering, business and community life, describing them as central to the strength of the bilateral relationship.
On education, the ambassador highlighted the growing presence of Australian institutions in Kuwait, with two Australian universities operating locally and a rising number of students enrolled each year, reflecting strong demand for Australian education standards.
Speaking more broadly about Australia Day, Ambassador Kelly reflected on Australia’s national identity, drawing on the words of Indigenous leader Noel Pearson. She outlined three defining stories of Australia: the heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Westminster system of democratic governance and Australia’s multicultural migration experience.
She acknowledged that Australia has faced recent challenges, including security threats and natural disasters, as well as global instability. In this context, she stressed the importance of standing with like-minded partners such as Kuwait to uphold shared values and regional stability.
