KUWAIT, Aug 19 (KUNA) — The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has disbursed nearly KD 7.46 billion (USD 24.42 billion) in loans and grants as of July 2025, playing a crucial role in fostering international development and economic cooperation, according to its acting Director General Waleed Al-Bahar.
Speaking Tuesday, Al-Bahar described the Fund as a trusted partner in global development, facilitating stable and sustainable relationships through concessional financing, technical assistance, feasibility studies, and human resource training in beneficiary nations. He emphasized that Kuwait, through the Fund, has consistently supported global stability by addressing poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity at regional and international levels.
Established in 1961, the Fund serves as a key instrument of Kuwait’s foreign aid policy, providing assistance to countries affected by conflict or natural disasters in coordination with United Nations agencies and other international bodies. Project selection follows strict criteria aligned with the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, targeting challenges such as inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation.
In recent allocations, Arab countries received KD 316.35 million (USD 1.03 billion), while international organizations were granted KD 125.91 million (USD 412.21 million) in technical and financial support. The Fund also contributed KD 70 million (USD 229.1 million) to the Wafra station project in collaboration with the Gulf Interconnection Authority, aimed at reinforcing national power grids and ensuring energy resilience.
Domestically, KFAED has allocated approximately KD 588 million (USD 1.92 billion) to support overseas investments by Kuwaiti firms, particularly in environmentally sustainable ventures. One notable initiative includes the “Improved Resilience to Transboundary Sand and Dust Storms in Kuwait and Southern Iraq,” implemented with UN-Habitat.
Importantly, the Fund operates independently, generating revenue through interest on loans and global investments, without drawing from the state’s central budget.
— news from Kuwait News Agency
— News Original —
The Fund… Kuwait’s generous arm
Report by Mohammad Al-Mutairi r nKUWAIT, Aug 19 (KUNA) — With a total of almost KD 7.46 billion (USD 24.42 billion) in loans and grants as of last July, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has been playing a pivotal role in fostering cooperation with global partners, said the Fund ‘s chief on Tuesday. nBe it contributing to capital, forging economic partnerships, or supporting investment-driven infrastructure, the Fund is appreciated as a “trustworthy partner” by many, opening doors for stable and sustainable relations through robust diplomatic ties with beneficiary countries in the form of easy loans, technical support, feasibility studies and training of human resources in such countries, said KFAED ‘s acting Director General Waleed Al-Bahar. nHe told KUNA that in its capacity as a responsible and benevolent grantor, Kuwait has always sought global stability by means of fighting poverty, unemployment, and achieving food security on regional and global scales. nKeen on developmental and economic integration in a humanitarian manner, the Fund — since its establishment in 1961 — acts as the State ‘s arm in providing support for war-torn and disaster-stricken countries in coordination with relevant UN and international agencies, Al-Bahar noted. nHe pointed out that landing on a project is governed by the Fund ‘s criteria, along with priorities of beneficiary parties, all in support of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet by addressing critical global challenges such as poverty, hunger, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation. nWhile Arab countries ‘ share reached KD 316.35 million (USD 1.03 billion), KFAED ‘s grants and technical assistance to international organizations totaled KD 125.91 million (USD 412.21 million), he added. nThe Fund also contributed to financing the Wafra station project in cooperation with the Gulf Interconnection Authority for the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council countries, at a value amounting to KD 70 million (USD 229.1 million) in order to strengthen the national electrical networks and ensure the sustainability of electrical energy at all times and circumstances. nLocally, the Fund provided some KD 588 million (USD 1.92 billion) in investment ventures overseas for Kuwaiti companies, especially in green projects — most notably the “Improved Resilience to Transboundary Sand and Dust Storms in Kuwait and Southern Iraq,” in collaboration with UN-Habitat, Al-Bahar concluded. nThe Kuwait Fund self-finances itself from its own profits from loan interest and its investments around the world, without forming a burden on the State ‘s general budget. (end) r nmd.hb