Kuwait Investment Authority

Kuwait Investment Authority

الهيئة العامة للإستثمار
Agency overview
Formed	1953 (1953)
Headquarters	Kuwait Investment Authority Tower, Al Asimah
Agency executives	Saad Al Barrak, Chairman Ghanem Al Ghenaiman, Managing Director
Parent agency	Ministry of Finance
Child agency	Kuwait Health Assurance Company
Website	Official website

Kuwait Investment Authority

AUM	US$980 billion (July 2024)

The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) is the State owned sovereign wealth fund of the State of Kuwait, managing the state's reserve and the state's future generation fund, also known as "Ajyal Fund".

Founded in 1953, the KIA is the world's oldest sovereign wealth fund. As of November 2024, it is the world's 5th largest sovereign wealth fund valued at just under US$1 trillion, with currently US$969 billion assets under management.

History and profile

KIA was founded on 23 February 1953 to manage the funds of the Kuwaiti Government in light of financial surpluses after the discovery of oil.

KIA manages the Kuwait General Reserve Fund, the Kuwait Future Generations Fund, as well as any other assets committed by the Ministry of Finance. To put KIA's size into perspective, the Kuwait Future Generations Fund has 15% of annual oil revenues added to it.

The Chinese regulator awarded Kuwait Investment Authority an additional $700 million quota on top of $300 million awarded in March 2012. The quota is the highest to be granted by China to foreign investment entities.

The Kuwait Investment Authority has an infrastructure arm and signed an agreement to acquire the oil and gas pipeline firm North Sea Midstream Partners Limited for approximately 1.3 billion GBP in 2018.

Grupo Torras

In 1986, the KIA's London based subsidiary, the Kuwait Investment Office (KIO), bought control of Torras Hostench, a Spanish paper maker. Torras subsequently took over a number of other companies to become Grupo Torras in June 1988. KIO invested about $2.5 billion in building up the company and another $1.8 billion to shore it up after the end of Spain's 1980s economic boom and the annexation of Kuwait by Iraq. However, in December 1992 Grupo Torras entered receivership among accusations of fraud, and Kuwait's investment was a total loss. One of its projects was the Gate of Europe twin towers in Madrid, which was still incomplete when the company collapsed.

Corporate Governance

KIA's board of directors is headed by the minister of finance with other seats allocated to the Energy Minister, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, and 5 other nationals who are experts in the field, 3 of which should not hold any other public office.

Board of Directors

• Emad Al-Ateeji – Deputy Prime Minister, Oil Minister, and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs
• Aseel Al-Munifi – Undersecretary of Ministry of Finance
• Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahamd Al-Sabah – Board Member
• Fahad Al-Rashed – Board Member
• Ghanem Suleiman Al-Ghenaiman – Board Member & Managing Director
• Saoud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah – Board Member

Executive Management

• Ghanem Suleiman Al-Ghenaiman – Managing Director
• Ahmed Bastaki – Executive Director (Planning & Senior Management Support)
• Abdulaziz Al-Bader – Executive Director (Operations & Administration)
• Aliah Al-Tameemi – Executive Director (Alternative Investments)
• Huda Almousa – Acting Executive Director (General Reserves)
• Sarah Al-Sane – Acting Executive Director (Marketable Securities)
• Abdulrazaq Al-Buaijan – Chief Representative (KIO – Shanghai)
• Khalid Al-Rowaieh – Director (Board of Directors Office)
• Ahmad Al-Baghli – Director (Internal Audit Office)

See also

• Economy of Kuwait

External links

• Kuwait Investment Authority
• Kuwait Ministry of Finance
• KIA SWFI Profile