ECONOMY
Industry:
Although oil extraction continues to be the economic mainstay, Kuwait has diversified its industry. Small-scale manufacturing plants produce ammonia, fertilizer, paper products, processed foods, and other consumer goods. In 2002, the food processing industry was expanding, with growth sectors including vegetable oils, beverage bases, breakfast cereals, poultry parts, cheese, frozen vegetables, and snack foods.
In 2002, Kuwait had three oil refineries with a total refining capacity of 828,000 barrels a day, including 773,000 barrels per day of crude oil distillation, 41,000 barrels per day catalytic cracking capacity, and 14,000 barrels per day reforming capacity. The major refinery products were fuel oil, gas oil, naphtha, kerosene, and diesel fuel.
Industrial products include desalinated water, chemical detergents, chlorine, caustic soda, urea, concrete pipes, soap, flour, cleansers, asbestos, and bricks. The construction industry is highly developed.
Agriculture:
Only 0.3% of the total land area is utilized for the cultivation of crops; permanent pasture land amounts to 7.7% of total land area. Despite the absence of rivers and streams, and the paucity of rain, the development of agriculture has been actively pursued.
The government apportions arable land at nominal prices on a long-term basis among farmers to stimulate production of vegetables and other crops. It also provides farmers with long-term loans and low-cost irrigation.
The state has supplied extension services and demonstration centers for new farming techniques in the attempt to increase agricultural production. Nevertheless, farming contributes less than 1% of the non-oil GDP. Agricultural output in 1999 included 134,000 tons of vegetables and melons, and 10,000 tons of fruit.
Research & Development:
High technology in Kuwait has been largely confined to the oil industry and has been imported, along with the scientists and technicians needed to install and operate oil refineries and related facilities.
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, founded in 1967 at Safat, promotes and conducts scientific research in the fields of food resources, water resources, oil sector support, and environmental studies. The Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources Authority have an experimental research station in Safat.
Kuwait University, founded in 1962 at Safat, has colleges of science, engineering and petroleum, medicine, and allied health sciences and nursing. The College of Technological Studies, in Shuwaikh, was founded in 1976. The Telecommunications and Navigation Institute, at Safat, was founded in 1966. In 1987–97, science and engineering students accounted for 29% of college and university enrollments.