SHARJAH: The Board of Directors of the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) discussed a number of topics during the 64th session of the meeting, chaired by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Also on the agenda for discussion were the Federation’s future directions and avenues for enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors.
The meeting was chaired by Faisal bin Abdullah al Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who said: “The Federation has become an important role in the Gulf economic development process,” stressing the great interest of the leaders of the GCC countries in supporting and empowering the private sector.
Al Rawas added: “We see a clear interest from the ministers of economic sectors in the GCC countries in involving the private sector in economic issues, enhancing communication with the sector, and taking into account its views on economic affairs."
Al Rawas explained that the Federation has achieved many accomplishments during the past period, as 27 challenges raised in the consultative meetings were resolved, and more than 5 initiatives were adopted at the Gulf level, in addition to taking into account the Federation’s proposals to find incentives to support the private sector.
He pointed out that the Union played an important role with the Customs Union to identify the most important challenges facing the growth of inter-trade between the GCC countries and an action plan was developed to accomplish it. The Union also agreed with those concerned with the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to hold specialized economic seminars with the Gulf private sector on issues of the Customs Union and the Gulf Common Market.
Ahmed bin Jassim al Zaabi, Chairman of the Federation of UAE Chambers, stressed the importance of these meetings to enhance economic integration, noting that the challenges facing the world economies in general and the region in particular require more partnerships between the Gulf public and private sectors. (ONA)
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