Kuwait’s infrastructure projects: Ready to take off after a pause

Kuwait’s infrastructure projects: Ready to take off after a pause

By Sajeev K Peter

KUWAIT: Kuwait has set its development goal in right earnest to develop and modernize its infrastructure to improve the quality of life of its citizens and residents. Infrastructure, one of the key themes of its ‘New Kuwait’ 2035 vision, has now begun to pick up momentum after a pandemic-induced lull of over two years. Rising oil prices have also added much-needed impetus to the country’s drive to put infrastructure projects back on track.

The country, currently seeking to secure a position in the top 35 countries in the world by 2035 in all development indicators, has resumed work on key infrastructure projects. According to official estimates, the country has approved around $65 billion for infrastructure, health, environment and power projects for the 2021-2022 financial year, with 5 percent of them based on private public partnerships (PPPs).

According to recent reports, these projects include 14 major public projects with a total value of approximately $59 billion and four partnership projects worth nearly $3.2 billion. The projects comprise mainly the airport expansion, Silk City, island development, trans-Kuwait rail network and rail link with nearby Gulf countries, Mutlaa city, and the Clean Fuel Project.

It may be recalled that the central tenders committee