National Day Message by H. E. Dr. Yaqoub Alateeqi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Bulgaria

Dear friends of Kuwait in Bulgaria,

On February, 25^th 2022 the State of Kuwait celebrates its 61th anniversary since obtaining independence and our country began its path toward prosperity and ceaseless growth in every aspect. This date is also related to the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi military invasion before 31 years - on February, 28^th, 1991. The country celebrates both historical events on the national day– February, 25^th. This year we also mark the 59th anniversary since establishing the diplomatic relations between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Bulgaria in 1963.

Unfortunately, the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Sofia will not be able to celebrate the National Day of Kuwait with the traditional annual reception in view of the ongoing global pandemic.

Year after year Kuwait proves its strong presence in the regional and the global political scene. Our country will continue its efforts to ensure solving the conflicts in the Middle East with wisdom and diplomacy.

Kuwait greatly appreciates long-term friendly relations with the people and the government of the Republic of Bulgaria. Both countries seek to increase the goods trade that continues to be below the desired level mainly because of transport problems and due to the difficult passage through Iraq and Syria. Unfortunately, the global spread of the coronavirus limits economic processes although the fact that the Kuwaiti authorities actively seek to further enhance the trade relations between the two countries.

This is part of the long-term program of the Kuwaiti government whichcurrently makes great effort to further enhance the mutual economic relations. The focus is on establishing a five-year ambitious plan in this regard and we hope that the Kuwaiti capital will soon find its chance for long-term investments which will open new markets and create jobsin Bulgaria.

In the meantime, we are concentrating our efforts to restart the Bulgarian- Kuwaiti Joint Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation, established in 1978, which has potential to increase the level of economic relations and to engage Kuwaiti investments in the fields of infrastructure, tourism, agriculture and other sectors in Bulgaria.

The two countries seek to revive the relations at political level with the new Bulgarian government. Our mutual ambition is to restore the bilateral relations on high level and thus promote the growth of the private business sector for the mutual interest of the two countries.

On the eve of our National Day I would like to express my hope that the two countries shall overcome the obstacles of the global pandemic and continue the planned projects which will strengthen the development of the bilateral relations in the interest of the two friendly countries in view of the decline of the pandemic on a global scale.

The material was provided by the Embassy of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Bulgaria. On the photo: H. E. Dr. Yaqoub Alateeqi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Bulgaria