Last November, the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council launched the electronic window (Takamul) for the submission of queries, complaints and suggestions related to the Gulf Common Market. This initiative is not new to Gulf citizens. It was envisioned to stimulate investment and growth, and open up job opportunities for GCC citizens in a number of economic and commercial fields. But many businesses have faced different challenges, particularly during spells of political and economic turbulence among the six countries.
Experts believe that the Gulf’s experience in the common market space is not as successful as that of the European Union countries, whose governments facilitated a lot of procedures for goods and merchandise to flow without any obstacles, such as trucks remaining stranded for hours or even days at border customs due to some unforeseen problem. Such problems have resulted in spoilage of perishables and destruction of many goods and products, causing losses to local businesses and economies.
In the next phase of the Gulf Common Market’s development, it is hoped that the new electronic window will facilitate greater cooperation and advance joint Gulf action. Inauguration of the General Secretariat will enable easier and faster resolution of problems and impediments in the flow of goods between the GCC states. At the same time, it important that all sides cooperate to provide facilities for businesses whose goods are in transit. This will help drive economic integration among the GCC states.
The establishment of the Gulf Common Market was first announced in December 2007 in Doha-Qatar at the conclusion of the 28th GCC Supreme Council summit. It was conceived on the fundamental principles of the Gulf Cooperation Council basic system and the GCC economic agreement. The continued functioning of this market has many positive benefits at the political and economic levels, given that the main objective is to ensure the flow of goods between the GCC states, and to enhance cooperation between private institutions operating in trade, industry and services. This enhances competitiveness among them and reduces time delays. The consumer is able to obtain the goods and merchandise he needs in a timely manner, particularly when supply disruptions – notably of the kind being witnessed in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict – is causing shortages of some commodities.
The Gulf peoples, like those of other blocs, have aspirations and hopes for achieving Gulf integration so that they can move and work in an environment characterised by equal treatment in terms of travel, residence, work, investment, education, health, social services and everything that concerns the Gulf individual. The treatment of citizens of the GCC states, both natural and legal, should be equal and without differentiation or discrimination in all economic fields.
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