HE the Secretary General’s statements came during his participation in the 51st Industrial Cooperation Committee meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Industry of the GCC countries, held on Thursday (September 14, 2023) in the city of Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman.

The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion in the Sultanate of Oman, who is the Chairman of the current session, with the participation of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Industry of the GCC countries.

At the beginning of the meeting, HE Mr Albudaiwi expressed gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Sultan of Oman, who is the Chairman of the current session of the GCC Supreme Council, for the sincere efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman to strengthen the Cooperation Council course and joint Gulf action. He also expressed thanks and appreciation to HE the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion in the Sultanate of Oman for the warm reception, organisation and distinguished preparation for this meeting.

During his speech, His Excellency cited the directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC countries in their previous meetings, the most recent of which was their instructions during their 18th consultative meeting held in Jeddah last July, to focus on the economic aspects, especially completing the remaining steps to establish the GCC Customs Union and Common Market, adding that the directives express the sound vision of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC countries to reach the desired GCC economic unity in 2025.

Moreover, HE the Secretary General also stated that the GCC countries are among the first to benefit from the industrial revolution, and have worked to strengthen levels of economic diversification, encourage investment, reform business environments, support the role of the private sector, and develop and support human capital, in order to reinforce its position as a global financial, investment and industrial hub. 

In this regard, His Excellency referred to the invitation of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to join the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) group, and what was achieved on the sidelines of the G20 meetings to establish an economic corridor linking India to Europe through the GCC countries. He further affirmed that the two prominent steps will certainly have significant positive impacts on the GCC countries, and the consolidation of its regional and international economic position.

In conclusion, HE the Secretary General said that Their Excellencies the Ministers of Industry in the GCC countries reviewed a number of reports related to the work of the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) and the Office of the Technical Secretariat to Combat Harmful Practices in International Trade. He added that the ministers also discussed a number of topics on the meeting agenda aimed at encouraging industry in the Cooperation Council countries, as well as removing all obstacles that prevent achieving economic unity as a result of intensive efforts undertaken by several committees and the GCC General Secretariat.