A recently issued United Nations (UN) report indicates that Kuwait is among the most attractive countries for migrant workers worldwide. The report, titled 'The world's women 2010, trends and statistics,' was issued by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. According to the data in the report, Kuwait is among one of the 30 countries that 75 percent of the world's migrants live.

The Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) yesterday signed a number of major contracts, including one for a new water distribution facility which will help strengthen the ministry's distribution abilities in light of the increasing demand caused by steadily growing population levels. The new facility will also help to cope with the expected demand from the housing estates planned for locations across the country. The MEW also plans to carry out a number of modernization projects, including the importation of high-tech energy-saving regulators for street lighting in some areas. The ministry also plans to import other advanced equipment for the desalination units at the Shuwaikh desalination facility, reported Al-Qabas. The different contracts all come within the ministry's plan to strengthen and improve Kuwait's electricity and water networks.

Major Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan Company renewed its commitment to actively engage in a proposed refining and petrochemical joint venture with Kuwait and Vietnam yesterday. The company denied recent media reports saying that the Tokyo-based firm was considering backing out of the project.

Together, with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiary Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), as well as host Vietnam's PetroVietnam and Japanese partner Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated, we will continue our serious commitment to this project," said Mitsuru Yamanaka, Deputy General Manager of International Petroleum Business Department.