General Secretariat - New York
His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stressed the importance of enhancing dialogue and shared relations between the Council and the Community to serve common goals and interests, contributing to regional and international security and stability.
This came during his address at the 14th extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Community, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings, on Friday, September 27, 2024, in New York City.
At the beginning of his speech, HE the GCC Secretary General thanked Mr Luis Gilberto Murillo, Colombia's Foreign Minister, for inviting him to participate in the meeting, praising the strong relations that have been strengthened between the two parties since their last meeting in May to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Community's founding.
He noted that the meeting is taking place at a critical time, as the world faces political and security challenges that necessitate intensifying joint efforts, particularly in addressing security threats such as nuclear proliferation, ballistic missiles, and freedom of maritime navigation, in addition to combating terrorism and crime.
He also referred to the memorandum of understanding signed between the Cooperation Council and the Caribbean Community in September 2023, which established a partnership framework for the period 2023-2027, indicating that this partnership aims to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, and tourism, promote sustainable growth and innovation, as well as improve connectivity and explore economic opportunities.
Moreover, His Excellency stated during his speech that the volume of merchandise trade between the GCC countries and the Caribbean countries has nearly doubled, reaching 6.5 billion US dollars in 2021, reflecting the strength of economic relations that contribute to enhancing growth and prosperity for both parties.
He mentioned that both sides will hold several technical meetings in October concerning topics such as climate change, promoting sustainable tourism, and enhancing connectivity, underlining that these meetings align with the joint action plan approved by both parties.
In conclusion, His Excellency expressed his gratitude and appreciation for all efforts made by both sides, wishing that the upcoming meetings would yield fruitful results that enhance mutual cooperation and benefit the member states.
