Undersecretary of Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr Khalid Al-Fadhel affirmed that the Australian Government continues to supply Kuwait with live sheep, denying that it has banned the export of sheep to Kuwaiti markets, reports Al-Qabas daily.

He highlighted that the decision was to ban a particular shipping company and not the State of Kuwait, indicating that the ministry will work on signing the relevant contract with another shipping company. Al-Fadhel stressed that the ministry, in coordination with the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR), has been taking relevant actions to avoid any price hikes, adding that these actions include finding new sources for live sheep such as Iran, Sudan and Jordan as well as other countries. He affirmed that such actions are aimed to preserve the balance in the market, adding that this policy is adopted by the ministry for other commodities as well.

Al-Fadhel explained that the ministry allowed the sheep prices to increase from July due to the recent regulations adopted by the Australian authorities to reduce the number of sheep carried in one ship by 40 percent in order to avoid suffocation of the animals during the long journey under hot temperatures. The decision was taken by Australia due to pressures imposed by some animal welfare organizations.

He added that, with the improvement of the weather conditions, the quantity of shipped sheep is expected to go back to normal, which will in turn reducing the prices to its previous values. Meanwhile, the Safat Sheep Market witnessed normal movement. The cost of Arabian sheep range from KD 85 to KD 90, and the cost of Iranian sheep range from KD 75 to KD 80.

Affirmed
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Municipality Hossam Al-Roomi affirmed that contract for the construction of the new Kuwait International Airport Terminal (T2) did not include car parks, reports Al-Jarida daily. Responding to a parliamentary question raised by MP Mubarak Al-Hajraf, Al- Roomi explained that contracts for the construction of car parks at the airport, air services, runways and infrastructure will be floated in two different deals separate from the T2 contract. He said contract number HMKh/214 concerning the construction, completion and maintenance of the new airport terminal is worth KD 1.312 billion.

Official sources at the Ministry of Public Works disclosed that Central Tenders Committee has opened the door for complaints a month after the procedure of floating tenders for the services buildings, roads leading to the new terminal, and car parks for T2 to 22 prequalified companies took place. They indicated no complaint was received, and the procedures strictly followed stipulated regulations without a single violation. MP Riyad Al-Adsani said he addressed the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr Hamed Al-Azmi on the holdup of salaries of Bedoun correspondents in the ministry for almost three months, reports Al-Anba daily. He promised to communicate with the relevant company the ministry contracted for the task in order to find a swift solution to the issue.

SOURCE : ARABTIMES