Al-Badawi: Joint Gulf Industrial Work Built on a Solid Foundation of Decisions and Policies

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Al-Bedawi, said on Tuesday that the “Made in the Gulf” initiative embodies the vision agreed upon by Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, which holds that industry is a fundamental pillar for diversifying the Gulf economies.

This statement was made by Al-Bedawi during his speech at the opening of the “Made in the Gulf 2026” forum and exhibition, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain under the patronage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. This is the first edition of the event, themed “Towards a More Integrated, Competitive, and Future-Ready Gulf Industrial Economy,” and organized by the GCC Secretariat General and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

The Secretary-General expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the King of Bahrain for his gracious patronage, and to Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for honoring this Gulf event, which reflects the significant attention accorded to joint Gulf industrial efforts.

He emphasized that joint Gulf industrial work has been built over the years on a solid foundation of decisions and policies, including the harmonization of specifications and standards, facilitation of the movement of goods and industrial materials, protection of Gulf products, enhancement of fair competition, and support for integration within supply chains. As a result, the GCC member states currently host more than 22,000 factories employing over 1.7 million workers, with manufacturing industries contributing 13 percent to the gross domestic product.

In the same context, he clarified that the GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee plays a pivotal role in advancing Gulf industrial integration. Its efforts have yielded several important achievements and outputs, most notably the harmonization of various industrial regulations, such as adopting the Industry 2022-2030 Strategy to empower national products and provide collective protection for Gulf industries.

Regarding investment in the industrial sector, he noted that the GCC member states launched an ambitious project targeting 20 joint Gulf industrial investment opportunities. In its first phase, five opportunities were completed and approved by the Industrial Cooperation Committee, forming the foundation for subsequent opportunities.

He pointed out that international indicators confirm the significant international standing the GCC member states have achieved in the industrial sector. According to the 2025 Global Competitiveness in Manufacturing Index published by UNIDO, which measures productive manufacturing and export capacity, technological depth and development, and global impact, the United Arab Emirates ranked 32nd globally, Saudi Arabia 34th, Qatar 48th, Kuwait 53rd, Oman 58th, and Bahrain 63rd.

He added that the GCC member states occupy six of the top seven positions in the Arab region, with two of them exceeding the global average for the index. These figures are a source of pride and call for collective action toward greater achievements. When our industrial capacities are integrated and our policies unified, we can accomplish what no single state can achieve alone, bringing us closer to Sustainable Development Goal 9.

He explained that the forum will host sessions for ministers, private sector leaders, and experts over its duration, focusing on several key themes. These include Gulf policies for accessing global markets, industrial integration, achieving self-sufficiency, enhancing supply chain resilience, financing mechanisms, industrial partnerships, smart factories, open industrial innovation, and the qualification and employment of Gulf human resources, as well as industrial infrastructure and economic zones.

He also expressed hope that “Made in the Gulf 2026” will yield clear messages, actionable recommendations, and genuine partnerships among manufacturers, investors, financial institutions, and knowledge-based entities, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Gulf industry.