Gulf States Visit A Success, Says Prime Minister Spencer

by Philip Morton, Investors Offshore.com

29 April 2008

Fresh from his recent visit to the Gulf states of Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer pronounced his first trip to that region a resounding success.

"The gulf region is a remarkable one and the countries that I visited are currently enjoying an unprecedented economic boom due to the sky high oil and gas prices , and I was particularly struck by the warm hospitality with which my delegation and I were received in each of the three countries we visited," observed the Prime Minister.

He revealed that he was able to discuss the various development needs of his twin-island State with each head of State and/or government of the three countries he visited, noting that he chose to highlight his country's needs in the fields of tourism, education, culture, sports, ICT, health, sanitation and bilateral economic investment.

"Clearly then, each of my counterparts and I see this as a vital first step on the road to an enhanced partnership at the bilateral level and a broader vehicle for future South-South cooperation," he stated, continuing:

"Our Ambassador to the Middle East Sir Ramez Hadeed and Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr John W. Ashe, will be following up through their counterparts on many of the areas that were discussed on this trip."

The Prime Minister's first stop was the State of Qatar, where he was a featured speaker at the 8th Doha Forum on Development, Democracy and Free Trade, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of 77 and China.

From Qatar, the Prime Minister and his delegation traveled to the Kingdom of Bahrain, where he held bilateral discussions with Sheikh Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Prime Minister concluded his Middle East trip with a visit to the State of Kuwait, where he held bilateral discussions with a number of senior officials of the Kuwaiti government, including the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Saber; the Prime Minister, Shiekh Nasser Al-Mohammaed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Director of the Kuwait Fund, the Director of Kuwait Investment Authority, and the Chairman of Kuwait Petroleum Company.

The Prime Minister's delegation to the Gulf region included Dr Edmond Mansoor, Minister of Information, Communications and Broadcasting; Ramez Hadeed, Senior Ambassador and Ambassador to the Middle East; John W.Ashe, Ambassador to the United Nations; and Conrod Hunte, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

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