VZCZCXRO3886
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0733 1781410
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261410Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1749
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000733 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ELTN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR JONES' COURTESY CALL WITH KUWAITI 
MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS 
 
REF: KUWAIT 655 
 
Summary 
----------- 
 
¶1. (U)  AMB Jones met on June 12 with newly appointed 
Kuwaiti Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for 
Municipality Affairs H.E. Dr. Fadhil Safar Ali Safar. 
Minister Safar aims to prioritize the development of Public 
Works personnel and information systems to enhance the work 
and capability of the Ministry.  AMB Jones encouraged the 
combination of Kuwait's finances with American expertise to 
address current public works challenges in Kuwait.  End 
Summary. 
 
Minister's Priorities -  Getting People to Work 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2. (U)  In response to AMB JonesQ query on his biggest 
challenge, the Minister replied "getting people to come to 
work and commit to their job."  He described a system with 
little accountability for both failure to attend work and 
submitting poor work products.  To address this, he will be 
hosting weekly meetings and keeping records for attendance 
at work.  According to the Minister, this will be the first 
time that such checks have been placed on Ministry 
employees.  In addition, he wants to fully automate the 
Ministry despite the resistance to using computers by 
many.  Minister Safar intends to move towards a paperless 
system and develop a more professional work environment 
that coordinates issues between the Ministry and the 
various municipalities.  The Minister, who holds a Ph.D. in 
petroleum engineering, intends to utilize a U.S. training 
program called "Bulls Eye" he was exposed to while at the 
Kuwait Oil Company. 
 
Potential for U.S. Assistance 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U)  AMB Jones suggested that the GOK combine its 
financial resources with American expertise to address 
current public works challenges in Kuwait.  Minister Safar 
said he welcomed additional experts from the U.S. side. 
AMB Jones noted that we now had two engineers detailed to 
the Ministry and offered to look into additional resources. 
 
Proposed Infrastructure Projects 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U)  Minister Safar discussed his coordination with the 
Ministry of Communications to divide responsibility on the 
development of transportation infrastructure.  The Ministry 
of Communications will oversee light rail and metro and the 
Ministry of Public Works will oversee roads and bridges. 
Current projects with the Ministry of Public Works include 
the construction of two bridges in Sabiyah and Babiyan, 
development of the Eight Ring Road, and plans for a 
regional bypass road from the north to south of Kuwait.  He 
expressed an interest to direct some public infrastructure 
projects to the private sector to increase efficiency and 
output.  AMB Jones reiterated the comments made during 
Transportation Secretary PetersQs May 28 visit that the 
bypass road should be properly zoned to avoid the 
construction of urban centers along the highway (Ref A). 
 
Kuwait Needs a Public Relations Campaign to Make Kuwaitis 
Take Better Care of Their Country 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
--------- 
 
¶5. (U)  Minister Safar suggested that Kuwait needs a public 
relations campaign to encourage people to take better care 
of their country.  He stressed a need to address these 
issues through better education and also to have Kuwaiti 
political levels raise this at the highest levels. 
 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
JONES