Poland in Kuwait

Historical view 

Diplomatic relations between Poland and Kuwait were established on 13 May 1963. Immediately after that, the Embassy of the Polish People's Republic was opened, and its work was managed by a commercial counselor as chargé d'affaires. Between 1964 and 1971 Polish ambassadors to Lebanon based in Beirut were accredited in Kuwait. After 1971 until the Iraqi invasion, Polish ambassadors to Iraq based in Baghdad were accredited in the country. The first Polish ambassador in Kuwait was Witold Skuratowicz, who submitted credentials on 11 March 1964. Between 1965 and 2001 Kuwait’s ambassadors to the USSR, then Russia, based in Moscow were accredited in Poland.

Bilateral agreements signed before the Polish democratic transition in 1989 include: 

• Agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the State of Kuwait (signed in 1975);
• Air transport agreement between the Polish People's Republic and the State of Kuwait (signed in 1977);
• Agreement between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the State of Kuwait on cultural cooperation (signed in 1982).

Political cooperation after 1989

From 1991, Janusz Dworak served as chargé d’affaires, and then the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Kuwait. After the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait, he was accredited to the Kuwait authorities in exile in Riyadh. Since January 2003, the Embassy of the State of Kuwait has its headquarters in Warsaw. In 2008, Kuwait was visited by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the Treasury and National Defense ministers. In March 2009, the Minister of Sport visited Kuwait, while in October 2010 a delegation from the Kuwaiti-Polish Parliamentary Group of the Kuwait National Assembly visited Poland. Recently, the most important event was President Andrzej Duda’s visit to Kuwait. The President was visiting the Polish military contingent participating in Operation Inherent Resolve aimed at the so-called Islamic State. During the years 2018-2019, several meetings of foreign ministers of Poland and Kuwait took place. Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz visited Kuwait in August 2019.

Bilateral agreements: Agreement between the Republic of Poland and the State of Kuwait for the promotion and protection of investments (signed in 1990); Agreement between the Republic of Poland and the State of Kuwait for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital (signed in 1996); Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the State of Kuwait on the determination of the status of a Polish military unit under Operation "Enduring Freedom" (signed in 2002); Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the State of Kuwait on the exemption from visas for holders of diplomatic passports (signed in 2016).

The legal and treaty structure of bilateral economic relations consists of: - Agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the State of Kuwait from 1975 (in effect from 1976); - Agreement between the Republic of Poland and the State of Kuwait for the promotion and protection of investments from 1990 (1993); - Agreement between the Republic of Poland and the State of Kuwait for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital from 1996 (2000). In 2004, the Polish National Chamber of Commerce and the Kuwaiti Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a cooperation agreement. Polish exports have always dominated in bilateral trade. Imports from Kuwait are marginal – with the exception of 2006, when Poland bought Kuwaiti oil worth nearly USD 117 million. According to CSO data for January 2019, Polish-Kuwaiti trade turnover totaled USD 7.4 million (a decrease of 31.1% compared to the same period of 2018), including Polish exports - USD 7.1 million (a decrease of 32.1%), while imports totaled USD 0.3 million (an increase of 15.8%). Capital and investment cooperation is limited. Kuwaiti company Alshaya has established a subsidiary in Poland, which oversees the expansion of the franchise network of international brands, including Claire’s, NEXT, The Bodyshop. In addition, in 2018, Visdal Investments, controlled by the Kuwaiti holding company, Kuwait Projects Company Holding, took steps to take over the Polish company Mlekoma, operating in the milk processing and cheese production sector. The amount of Kuwaiti capital located in Poland is difficult to determine. According to Kuwaiti data, the value of investments in Poland by Kuwait Investment Authority reaches around USD 400 million, while according to NBP data - USD 55.5 million. This is due to the fact that the majority of Kuwaiti funds in Europe are invested through specialized financial sector companies based in the United Kingdom or in other EU countries. They invest in both real estate and stock assets. In May 2007, Kuwait Petroleum North-West Europe, a subsidiary of the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum International (a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation) launched the first Q8 fuel station in Poland. The presence of Polish companies on the Kuwaiti market is still marginal. However, this is expected to change after the opening of the Foreign Trade Office of Polish Investment and Trade agency planned to inaugurate in 2019. The Kuwaiti plan for large infrastructure investments creates some opportunities for their involvement as suppliers, contractors and subcontractors. It provides for the implementation of projects, including in housing, energy, railways, construction of tourist facilities, hospital facilities, etc. Raising Polish-Kuwaiti economic cooperation to a higher level is possible in a relatively short period. Liberal regulations on access to the goods market allow the development of trade without major restrictions. In connection with the government's national development plan, Kuwait is implementing a number of projects worth approximately USD 130 billion, which creates opportunities for interested Polish companies.

Links:

Polish Foreign Trade Office in Kuwait
Government of Kuwait
Public Authority for Industry 
Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority
Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Kuwaiti Union of Investment Companies

In 1982, an Agreement was signed between the Government of the People's Republic of Poland and the Government of the State of Kuwait on cultural cooperation. The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kuwait organizes various cultural events and cooperates with local educational and cultural institutions.

The Polish-Kuwaiti Archaeological Mission has been conducting excavations in Kuwait when the Center of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw established cooperation with the Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature (NCCAL). Around 100 Kuwaiti cadets are currently studying at the Naval Academy in Gdynia.

The Polish School at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kuwait has been providing classes for Polish students in Kuwait since 1995.