Kuwait Defense
Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense (KMOD) published new requirements for industry interaction with Kuwait’s Military Service Branches.
The new policy obliges companies to approach KMOD’s Foreign Procurement Sector (FPS) with a meeting request as the military members of Kuwait’s Government are not allowed to communicate with industry on new business without approval. U.S. companies that are visiting Kuwait should plan ahead and put a meeting request at least 6 weeks in Advance.
To start the procedure, a U.S. company should submit an official letter that is printed on an official company letterhead and addressed to the Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Procurement, Dr. Eng. Shamayel Ahmed Khaled Al-Sabah via email to ForeignProcurement@mod.gov.kw. The letter must be sent as an attachment, an email with a text will be rejected. When addressing the letter, relevant departments or coordinators should not be copied. The subject of the letter is to introduce an American product or service to the relevant committee and/or service leadership.
In the official letter, American companies should include at least two options for meeting time. FPS will respond back with a letter confirming the meeting and granting access to the location.
The U.S. Commercial Service in Kuwait highly recommends U.S. company representatives do not travel until FPS responds with an approval email or letter. During COVID restrictions, the Commercial Service Team recommends virtual meetings. Please pay appropriate respect, customs, courtesies, etc. -regardless of the type of meeting.
Moreover, in case FPS requests product and service catalogs or any other materials, they should be mailed to the address below:
Kuwait Ministry of Defense
Foreign Procurement Department
General Registration office
Gate NO. 12, 4th Ring Road, Shuwaikh
P.O. Box: 1170 Safat – Pin Code No 13012
Kuwait
A summary of FPS E-Mail regulations:
Chain letters or copy in any other department communications are not accepted.
Text Email are not accepted, only official letters scanned & uploaded to their email account.
Responding to any email letters only during working hours.
Correspondence to FPS must be addressed to the Assistant Undersecretary for FPS.
Communications with / to FPS must be confidential and not to be shared with third party.
FPS is the only correspondence channel regarding all Kuwait Army requirements.
Failure to act upon the above will result in block the origin and blacklist it.
All meetings requests must be submitted before at least (6) weeks from the proposed date.
FPS working hours: Sunday through Thursday from 0700 to 1430 GMT+3
E-mail: ForeignProcurement@mod.gov.kw
For more information about the defense sector, please contact Yousif.Almahdi@trade.gov