The Belgian embassy in Kuwait is working to organize a series of events on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The volume of trade exchange between Kuwait and Belgium in 2022 reached about €600 million in imports and exports
His Excellency Christian Domes, Belgian Ambassador to Kuwait, characterized the relationship between Kuwait and Belgium as cordial and exceptional, with potential for expansion into new realms, aligning with his ambassadorial goal.

In statements to reporters on the sidelines of the Francophone Diwaniyah that Ambassador Domes hosted at his residence, he revealed that the embassy is working to organize a series of events on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
This represents a milestone in the history of bilateral relations. Included in these events is one that will be organized on April 28 at the Kuwait National University library. A Kuwaiti researcher and academic designed a brochure on the history of bilateral relations since their establishment.

The Ambassador added, “A reception will be organized on April 30 to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of relations. Additionally, several Belgian artists will be invited to perform concerts in Kuwait at the end of May, as part of fostering closer ties between Eastern and Western music.”

Ambassador Domes indicated that he would like to arrange several high-level mutual visits. However, the current circumstances in his country, including the upcoming European Union elections in mid-June that coincide with federal elections, are keeping senior state officials occupied with the electoral process. Nonetheless, the desire for these visits remains strong.
His Excellency explained that “the round of political consultations between the two countries, held last June, was successful, describing his country as a favored tourist destination for visitors from around the world, given its central location in Europe, allowing tourists to access high-speed trains throughout the continent. Additionally, he emphasized its rich cultural and artistic diversity.”

Ambassador Domes explained that determining the exact number of Kuwaitis who visit his country annually is challenging due to the absence of direct flights between the two countries. He pointed out that establishing a direct flight route is one of his priorities for the next stage, citing its positive impact on popular and economic relations.

He revealed that the consular section at the embassy issued approximately 3,000 visas last year. However, he clarified that this number does not accurately reflect the actual number of Kuwaiti tourists visiting his country, as many of them hold long-term ‘Schengen’ visas obtained from other embassies.
In response to a question about security cooperation between the two countries, Ambassador Domes stated, “We have distinguished cooperation with Kuwait on the security level. We also have distinguished cooperation through NATO as a founding member of the alliance, and this cooperation enhances our monitoring of the situations in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.”

The Ambassador pointed out that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries in 2022 amounted to about 600 million euros in imports and exports. He highlighted the great potential to increase trade rates given the opportunities that both countries possess.

Regarding the event, he praised the Diwaniyah as a unique aspect of Kuwaiti culture. He expressed his happiness at hosting Francophone friends from Kuwait and French speakers to exchange ideas, values, openness, and pluralism.

The Ambassador explained that while French is not the first language in his country, Dutch holds that position. Nevertheless, Belgium is an essential part of Francophonie.