GCC Secretary-General Discusses Free Trade Agreement Updates with British Minister

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Al-Budaiwi, held talks yesterday with British Minister of State for Trade Policy Lord Anas Sarwar on the free trade agreement and ways to enhance economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.

The GCC General Secretariat stated in a press release that the meeting took place in London on the sidelines of the UK-GCC Economic Forum, during which the distinguished economic and trade relations between the GCC member states and the United Kingdom were discussed.

The release added that the meeting reviewed recent developments regarding the free trade agreement between the two sides and emphasized the importance of moving forward to complete the necessary procedures for its entry into force, thereby contributing to expanding the horizons of economic cooperation, boosting trade and investment flows, and opening new avenues for partnership.

Al-Budaiwi stressed that GCC member states attach great importance to strengthening their economic ties with the United Kingdom, based on the historical links and strategic partnership that unite the two sides.

He pointed to the shared desire to elevate the levels of economic and trade cooperation and to capitalize on available opportunities and potential, in a manner that serves mutual interests and supports economic growth and prosperity for both sides.