By Talal Al-Ghannam (With photo)

KUWAIT, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- Kuwait can become another Dubai in the area if Kuwaiti officials work seriously towards this objective, a senior Italian official said here Wednesday.

Visiting Italian Minister for International Trade and European Affairs Emma Bonino told KUNA, in interview, it was not impossible for Kuwait to have similar advantages to Dubai if there is a serious commitment, and that this "decision is up to the Kuwaitis."

Bonino, who was on a tour of a number of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, said she was conveying a message to the Kuwaiti officials from her government that there is a renewed attention to and priorities awarded to the region.

She said she is familiar with this part of the world as she had lived for the past few years in Egypt and other Arab countries, adding she believes this region is stable with good economic development and growth.

She said she was impressed with the presence of Italian companies everywhere she had toured, including construction exhibitions currently being held in Dubai with more than 300 Italian companies participating.

She also pointed to the presence of a number of vibrant companies in Doha, Qatar, and Kuwait, adding that her role was to explore new business opportunities and try to solve obstacles, where needed.

Bonino said she was also impressed to see a number of Italian companies present in tenders for infrastructure projects in Kuwait.

"I hope the Italian companies would be successful in their bids and this is a good message for the other Italian companies," Bonino added.

She said the second message she wanted to convey to Kuwaiti private sector and government investors is that Italy is a wonderful country for doing business and vacation as well.

She pointed out that a delegation representing Italian banks would visit Kuwait within days, hoping there would be room for improvement of bilateral economic relations.

"We are aware of the strategic location of Kuwait, besides the stable region," Bonino added.

The official stressed her government's keenness that attention and priority be given to Gulf countries.

About the EU-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, Bonino said the negotiations started 15 years ago and that time has come to finalize this treaty.

"I believe there are obstacles, but by looking at these obstacles, none of them seem to me of a huge importance to destroy the negotiations and the treaty.

"I am urging counterparts of ministers in this region to show flexibility because I do think it would be great if we can finalize the agreement by the end of the year," Bonino said.

She urged the Kuwaiti side to "show openness and flexibility in the public procurement and financial services and this is not only good for us but for your country."

Bonino said that the European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson would be visiting the region in the coming few weeks.

She told KUNA that the idea of establishing a joint economic committee is up to the private sectors of both countries.

"I will check when I go back home to see whether there is an interest from the Italian side to establish a joint economic committee or a Business Council, and if there is enough interest, then I can create a joint political committee with my colleague minister in this regard," Bonino added.

As to the GCC single currency, Bonino said her advice to the GCC financial officials was to monitor the exchange rate first and then have it implemented.

"I can not imagine my country competing in the world with the Lira," Italy's old national currency, she said.

Asked whether the current economic reforms adopted by the state of Kuwait were encouraging for Italy, the Italian official told KUNA it was important for the Kuwaiti parliament to speed up implementation of ideas aimed at enhancing the economic atmosphere in Kuwait.

Bonino, was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 1976; and has been re-elected at every subsequent election (1979, 1983, 1992, 1994).

She held offices including that of chair of the parliamentary group of the Radical Party and was a member of the Presidential Bureau of the Parliament. She was re-elected Member of Parliament for the seventh time in 2006.

Bonino has a degree in Modern languages from Bocconi University, Milan, in 1972.