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In the year ended December 2008 Kuwait ranked as New Zealand’s 43rd most significant bilateral trade partner, and is currently our fourth largest trading partner among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC ) states. In the year to December 2008, NewZealand’s exports to Kuwait were NZ$90.6 million, primarily dairy products and meat. Imports from Kuwait in the year to December 2008 totalled NZ$164.4 million, comprised mainly of crude oil.
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait.
A New Zealand investment company, Intellectual Capital Partners Ltd (ICAP), and Kuwait Finance House (one of the world’s largest Islamic banking groups, with total assets of over US$9 billion), have created an Islamic private equity fund worth US$100 million, registered in Bahrain and regulated by the Bahrain Monetary Agency, which is investing in New Zealand and Australia. NewZealand companies are involved in construction in Kuwait, including McConnell Dowell (oil pipelines, construction) and the then Department of Survey and Land Information (delineating the Kuwait/Iraq border). Dairy and meat products continue to dominate the goods trade; however New Zealand firms involved in providing education services and telecommunications equipment are finding a growing market.
New Zealand is currently negotiating a Free Trade Arrangement with GCC states. Five rounds of negotiations have been completed with a sixth round to be held in New Zealand in October 2009.
Since 1 July 1999, GCC nationals, including from Kuwait, have not required visas to visit New Zealand for visits of up to 90 days. top of page
Land Area - 17,818 sq km Population - 3.4 million (2008) - Capital City - Kuwait City - Religion - Islam (80% Sunni) - Official Language - Arabic - Currency - Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils - Exchange Rate - US $1 = KD 0.276 (2008)
Political system - Constitutional Emirate - National government - Power is exercised by the Emir through a Council of Ministers, headed by a Prime Minister who is chosen by the Emir. - National legislature - Unicameral National Assembly of 50 elected members plus appointed cabinet ministers. The Assembly has been dissolved five times by decree of the Emir, in 1976, 1986, 1999, 2006, and most recently in March 2009 - Last election - May 2009 - Next election due - May 2013 - Head of State - Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al Sabah acceded in February 2006) - Head of Government - Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al Ahmed Al-Sabah
GDP - US$150.7 billion (2008 estimate EIU) - Real GDP growth - 8.5% (2008 estimate EIU) - Exports - US$89.4 billion (2008 EIU estimates) - Imports - US$24.9 billion (2008 EIU estimates) - Current account balance - US$61.9 billion (2008 EIU estimates) - Inflation - 9.1% (2008) - Gross external debt - US$36.9 billion (2008 EIU estimate)
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$90.6 million (for the year to December 2008) - Main Exports - Milk and cream (NZ$27.9 million); Butter (NZ$15.2 million); Meat (NZ$13.2 million); Wood(sawn)/fibreboard/ joinery (NZ$12.1 million); Cheese (NZ$9.2 million) - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$164.4 million (for the year to December 2008 - Main Imports - Crude oil (89%); fertiliser (11%)
Crude oil (NZ$145.6 million); Fertilizer (NZ$17.5 million). top of page
A number of high-level visits have promoted the bilateral relationship. Hon Philip Burdon visited Kuwait in 1991. The Kuwaiti Minister of Higher Education, Dr Ahmed Abdullah Al-Rabai, visited New Zealand in February 1993 and in September 1993 a parliamentary delegation, headed by the Speaker of the Kuwait National Assembly, visited New Zealand to convey similar messages of goodwill. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Rt Hon Don McKinnon, visited Kuwait in 1995. The then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Sir Peter Tapsell, led a Parliamentary delegation to Kuwait in 1996. There was a subsequent parliamentary delegation visit to New Zealand in 2001. More recently, former Governor-General, Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright, visited Kuwait in June 2004.
Kuwaiti government departments have also visited NewZealand to look at cooperation and reform, such as the Ministry of Education delegation in 1994 and Ministry of Finance teams in 1997 and 1999. In 1994 a delegation from the Kuwait Investment Authority visited to explore investment opportunities.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Kuwait [external link]. Enquiries may be directed to Consular Division at the following numbers: telephone: +6444398000; fax: +644439 8532
