The Foreign Ministers of Latvia and Kuwait agree on co-operation in business and in higher education

On 29 April, within the setting of the European Union and Gulf state Co-operation Council meeting, Latvia's Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. The meeting took place at the initiative of Latvia.

During their meeting the main focus of attention was on the development of a legal framework for the development of economic co-operation and contact between entrepreneurs of both Latvia and Kuwait. Minister Riekstins noted Latvia's interest in signing a bilateral convention on the avoidance of double taxation with regard to taxes on income and capital gains, as well as to commence negotiations with regard to an agreement on air traffic.  Both sides agreed on the possibility of a visit to Kuwait by a delegation of Latvian business representatives, quite possibly in the autumn of this year, so as to search for new ways and means in promoting Latvia and Latvian products to the Gulf region.

At the same time, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister expressed an interest to search for co-operation opportunities in the area of education and science, especially in the sphere of higher education. Minister Riekstins informed his colleague that Latvia is able to offer competitive educational programmes and invited representatives from Kuwait to visit Latvia and to explore these possibilities.

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