Doha: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Industrial Cooperation Committee convened on Thursday with British Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds in the Qatari capital, Doha. The meeting saw active participation from Kuwait and focused on advancing the Free Trade Agreement between GCC countries and the United Kingdom. According to Kuwait News Agency, Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani expressed gratitude to GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi and the negotiating teams for their efforts to implement the agreement. He highlighted the progress achieved since negotiations started in 2022, noting that trade volume between the GCC and the UK has reached USD 31.7 billion. Reynolds commended the negotiating teams for their efforts and emphasized the importance of allowing them the space to continue their work. Al-Thani also mentioned that trade exchange with New Zealand amounted to USD 2.9 billion in 2023, with exports reaching USD 1.75 billion and i mports at USD 1.19 billion. He asserted that these figures could increase with the signing of the free trade agreement. New Zealand Deputy Foreign Minister and Trade Minister Todd McClay expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts to finalize the agreement with the GCC. He stated that the agreement would deepen bilateral relations and enhance various sectors for mutual benefit. Al-Budaiwi and McClay concluded the meeting by signing a joint statement marking the end of negotiations for the free trade agreement. The Kuwaiti delegation was led by Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalifa Al-Ajeel.
