Coll 30/29 'Persian Gulf, Kuwait: Trade Reports 1930/31 to 19..' [68v] (136/408)
The record is made up of 1 file (202 folios). It was created in 18 Apr 1932-1 Jan 1948. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
2
15. Public Health. —During the year there were
no epidemics. The health of the town on the whole
was good, but Tuberculosis and Abdominal com
plaints took their usual toll, the latter especially
among infants. Ear and eye diseases being as
common as previous years.
PART n.
(A) Trade.
General Conditions. —At the present time Kuwait
is passing through a stage of transition from a Bedouin
to a more or less modern town. People’s wants
are definitely increasing and becoming diverse in
character. The change has been all the more rapid
since the opening up of the overland route to Iraq.
Similarly the advent of Imperial Airways on the
Arab side of the Gulf and the fact that Kuwait
has become a regular port of call for the East and
West-bound aircraft, have also had a considerable
civilising effect on the Kuwait population as a
whole.
2. Kuwait, which grows neither wheat, barley,
rice, K dates, the staple food needs of the Arabs, pro
duces nothing to meet her own needs ; for all her
requirements she depends on foreign countries.
India supplies Kuwait with most of her foodstuffs,
t.e., rice, sugar, tea, flour, etc. ; Japan with piece-
goods, hardware and a large variety of miscellaneous
articles, etc.; and Iraq with wheat, barley, dates,
tobacco, cigarettes, articles of earthenware, etc.
3. In addition to the requirements of the popula
tion of the town itself—estimated to be some 60,000
souls, and of her nomad tribes numbering about
20,000, Kuwait imports large quantities of food
stuffs which find their way into the territories of
neighbouring States and help to support the great
Bedouin tribes of North East Arabia and of the
Southern desert of Iraq. This fact coupled to the
advantage of possessing a fine natural harbour (one
of the best in the Gulf) makes Kuwait an important
trade centre on the Arab side of the Persiace Gulf.
New Items of Trade. —There was evident during
the year under review of a gradual rise in the import
of western goods and mechanical things, among
which electric goods may be noted in particular.
An opportunity remains in 1938 for still further
exploitation of this latter market.
6. Grotvth of Foreign Competition. —Of late years,
foreign competition has grown to a formidable
extent in the Kuwait market. The latest and
most formidable entrant in the field being Japan.
Italian, German and Russian goods have in turn
had their day and practically disappeared. At
present Japanese goods alone preponderate over
all others in the local bazaars.
7. The Russians. —The position so far as Russian
goods are concerned continued to be the same as
in the previous year. Russia practically ceased
to trade during the year 1934-35 and there was no
attempt at a revival during the year under review.
8. Japanese. —Japan continued to exploit the
Kuwait market as was reported last year. Their
goods retained their popularity almost to the
elusion of those of all other nationalities. Th^^^
quality of most of their goods has been inferior
and often bad but they have possessed the all im
portant advantage of extreme cheapness.
The majority of the inhabitants of Kuwait earn
little more than suffices to eke out a bare existence.
To be readily saleable therefore everything must
be of the lowest possible price whatever its quality
or lasting properties may be.
9. Japanese Methods. —As reported on in detail _
last yesLT.i**^*^ A***? O' I*** I** L
10. Suggestion for Meeting Competition. —There is
nothing further to add to the detailed suggestions
given under this head in last year’s Report.
(B) Financial.
11. There are as pointed out in the previous
Report no European managed banks in Kuwait
and transfers of money to foreign countries are
either made by means of International Money
Order through the Post Office or by drafts through
local Arab bankers or through banks in Basra.
Two banks, the Ottoman and the Eastern, have
been negotiating with the Ruler for permission to
open a branch.
(C) Taxation.
12. An indirect tax in the form of a duty of 5
per cent, ad valorem is levied on imports into Kuwait.
This bears very lightly on people and its effect on
purchasing power of the consumer is insignificant.
Under agreement with His Majesty’s Government
articles imported by British subjects pay only
4 per cent. duty.
(D) Military.
13. Commandeering
of Transport.
Effects of Conscription.
The questions do not arise
^ since Kuwait military
system is that of a tribal
. type.
(E) Agriculture.
14. As stated above, neither Kuwait nor its en
vironments can boast of arty agricultural resources.
There are no date plantations of any value, no
fields and not many kitchen gardens. The Island
of Failaka and the villages to the south-east of
Kuwait supply a limited but increasing quantity
of vegetables and melons. The agricultural centre
in the principality is Jahrah (situated some 25
miles south-west of Kuwait) which has greatly
About this item
- Content
This file contains copies of annual Kuwait Trade Reports that were prepared by the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Kuwait. These reports contain detailed information related to trade, exchange, imports, exports and shipping in/out of Kuwait. In addition to copies of these reports, the file also contains a limited amount of related correspondence, primarily cover letters.
The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (202 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 204; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-202; these numbers are also written in pencil and circled.
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3743
- Title
- Coll 30/29 'Persian Gulf, Kuwait: Trade Reports 1930/31 to 19..'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:41v, 43r:61v, 63r:203v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence