His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohammed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the annual honouring ceremony is held to celebrate retirees in recognition of their contributions and positive impacts, as well as to commend the work teams for their diligent efforts in promoting the blessed achievements of the joint Gulf cooperation process and their success in attaining new Gulf accomplishments.
This statement was made during the annual honouring ceremony for retirees and several work teams that completed their tasks during the year 2024, which took place on Thursday (January 9, 2025), at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh, in the attendance of Assistant Secretaries General, sector heads, general managers, department directors and employees of the General Secretariat.
At the outset of his speech, HE the Secretary General indicated that the directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, consistently emphasise the importance of honouring those who have dedicated their efforts and contributions to the advancement of the blessed joint Gulf cooperation, noting that the idea of the honouring ceremony is inspired by these esteemed directives.
His Excellency expressed his gratitude and appreciation to several work teams that were formed last year and successfully completed their tasks, including the signing of several Free Trade Agreements between the GCC and various countries worldwide. He commended the role of the Free Trade Agreements Administration team, whose successful collaboration and coordination with member states contributed significantly to the progress of these agreements, underscoring that this success enhances the pioneering role and economic stature of the GCC states.
Furthermore, HE the Secretary General highlighted the substantial efforts of the GCC Pavilion team accompanying the 45th GCC Summit held in the State of Kuwait, the team responsible for the Gulf Weeks events hosted by the State of Kuwait concurrently with the summit, and the GCC Pavilion team at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Riyadh in December.
“These teams effectively showcased the blessed journey of the GCC, achieving remarkable attendance and extensive media coverage. The recognition of these teams today acknowledges their efforts and roles in preparing, organising, and executing these accomplishments and events, thereby fulfilling the objectives for which these teams were established,” His Excellency commented.
Moreover, HE the Secretary General extended his profound gratitude and appreciation to all sectors, offices, centres, and internal and external institutions within the General Secretariat for their commendable efforts and contributions to raising the standard of performance and achieving the desired goals. He expressed hope that this recognition serves as a support and incentive for all employees of the General Secretariat, reiterating his commitment to maintaining this positive approach and looking forward to holding the same ceremony next year to honour a variety of teams.
In a related context, His Excellency honoured several retirees from the General Secretariat of the GCC. During this occasion, he remarked that this recognition is not merely an opportunity to express deep gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of the retirees, but also a confirmation that their contributions will remain a present and guiding light in the journey of the General Secretariat.
He further said on the occasion: “They have been, and continue to be, an integral part of this blessed process, with their impacts evident in every achievement we have realised. We offer them our highest expressions of loyalty, appreciation and gratitude for dedicating years of their lives to serving the General Secretariat of the GCC with sincerity and devotion.”
Meanwhile, HE the Secretary General announced the launch of the “Wafaa” programme, designed to extend the close relationship between the General Secretariat and retirees, with the aim of honouring retirees and celebrate their efforts and distinguished professional history, which has positively impacted the work of the General Secretariat. The programme also seeks to enhance their quality of life by providing programmes that enrich their lives post-retirement, maintain open channels of communication to benefit from their valuable experiences in the non-profit sector, reinforce their sense of belonging and affirm that retirees are an indispensable part of the General Secretariat’s ecosystem, and to continue offering special benefits for General Secretariat employees in all fields.
