HE GCCSG: Their Majesties and Highnesses the GCC Leaders Were Keen to Strengthen Economic and Trade Cooperation Between the Cooperation Council and the Republic of Turkey, Based on the Depth of the Brotherly Relations Between the Two Sides

His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said that Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Cooperation Council countries, were keen to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the GCC and the Republic of Turkey, based on the depth of the brotherly relations between the two sides.

HE the Secretary General stressed that the GCC Ministerial Council, in its 155th session held in March, 2023, resumed the strategic dialogue between the Cooperation Council and the Republic of Turkey, where the Joint Action Plan between the two sides (2023-2027) was adopted.

This came during His Excellency’s participation in the GCC-Turkish Economic Forum, held in Istanbul in the Republic of Turkey on November 11-13, 2023, with the participation of top officials and business owners.

During his speech, HE the Secretary General stressed that the Forum is of great importance as it creates an opportunity to adopt and promote a common understanding to deal with the challenges of the economy and global stability, as well as enhancing future opportunities and confronting current challenges through cooperation, innovation, and a focus on overcoming difficulties between sectors and industries. Additionally, His Excellency pointed out that the Forum works towards achieving sustainable economic growth, mentioning that the trade exchange between the GCC countries and the Republic of Turkey amounted to USD 22 billion in 2021.

Moreover, HE Mr Albudaiwi also stated that the Forum focuses on economic issues and benefiting from major investment opportunities and potentials in many fields on both sides, as this event targets a number of economic fields related to trade and investment, industry and logistics services, infrastructure, agriculture and food, and sports, with the participation of a number of senior officials, decision-makers and businessmen in the GCC countries and the Republic of Turkey.

His Excellency added that the Forum will also be an ideal opportunity to explore potential areas of cooperation and raise the value of trade exchange between the two sides, which will benefit the economies of the GCC countries and Turkey, and increase the well-being of their people