GCC Market Integration Takes Centre Stage

45th meeting reviews Gulf economic integration, cross-border services and development of Takamul platform 

Bahrain chaired the 45th meeting of the GCC Common Market Committee, held at the GCC General Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh on August 26–27, as part of the Kingdom’s presidency of the 46th session of the GCC Supreme Council.

Shaikh Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Director of International Relations at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives of GCC member states and the General Secretariat, along with representatives of the GCC Statistical Centre.

The meeting discussed efforts to complete the requirements of the GCC Common Market and strengthen economic integration among GCC countries.

It also reviewed developments in cross-border trade in services and ways to further develop the unified electronic platform, Takamul, which receives comments and enquiries.

The discussions focused on enhancing GCC citizens’ access to the Common Market's benefits and supporting joint Gulf action.

The GCC Common Market was launched in January 2008 under the GCC Economic Agreement. It provides for GCC citizens to be treated equally with citizens of any GCC member state, without discrimination, across various economic sectors.

These areas include mobility, employment, investment, real estate ownership, company establishment, education, healthcare and social services, among other fields aimed at advancing Gulf economic integration and meeting the aspirations of GCC citizens.