Kuwait city: The State of Qatar participated in preparatory meetings of the GCC Committees of Undersecretaries of Commerce and Industry, held in the State of Kuwait. The meetings saw the participation of Their Excellencies the Undersecretaries of Commerce and Industry from GCC member states, alongside the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC General Secretariat and the CEO of the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting.
According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar's delegation was led by Mohammed bin Hassan Al Malki, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. During the 61st preparatory meeting of the Undersecretaries of Commerce, various topics were discussed, including updates on free trade agreement negotiations, intra-GCC investments, developments in commercial laws, the objectives of the GCC Committee for Small and Medium Enterprises, and issues related to the GCC Patent Office. The meeting also focused on proposals to advance the commercial sector and preparations for international participation in 2025.
In the concurrent 47th preparatory meeting of the Undersecretaries of Industry, key issues such as localization criteria for GCC national products, goods exempted from the unified customs tariff, and a promotional plan for industrial investment opportunities were addressed. The meeting endorsed initiatives to stimulate industrial investments, promote a circular economy, and enhance innovation among small and medium enterprises. It also introduced the Gulf Industrial Platform as a digital system for industrial cooperation.
The meeting explored collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in innovation and industrial sustainability and discussed the development of a GCC strategy for Arab industrial integration. Various initiatives to advance the industrial sector were reviewed, with necessary decisions and recommendations adopted.
On the sidelines, the Undersecretary participated in the second regular session of the Executive Office of the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, where agenda items were discussed and recommendations made.