Bahrain pushes Gulf economic unity

Chairing the ninth preparatory meeting of the Standing Ministerial Committee for Economic and Development Affairs under the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held virtually as part of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s presidency of the 46th GCC session, the minister said closer coordination was essential to support sustainable growth across member states.

He said Bahrain, under the leadership of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, strongly emphasizes enhancing Gulf economic cooperation and speeding up the implementation of shared strategic initiatives.

The minister welcomed participating officials and praised the efforts of the State of Kuwait during its previous GCC presidency, as well as the role of the GCC General Secretariat in supporting joint action.

He noted that Gulf states face a sensitive regional phase requiring greater coordination. He warned that recent regional tensions and attacks on vital infrastructure and shipping routes underline the need to safeguard supply chains and reinforce economic readiness.

Minister Shaikh Salman said such developments highlight the importance of deeper integration to mitigate risks, adding that strong coordination among GCC members has already helped reduce potential economic disruptions.

He reaffirmed that unified Gulf efforts remain essential to ensuring regional stability and sustaining global economic security, as member states continue to align policies and advance common development goals.