Commerce and industry ministers at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will meet in Bahrain next week to discuss a joint stance on issues related to the World Trade Organization (WTO), reported the Gulf Daily News.
The meeting, on September 24 and 25, will also focus on many other issues related to industry, trade and standardization.
The meeting will be chaired by Bahrain’s Commerce and Industry Minister Ali Saleh Al Saleh, as his country holds the presidency of the GCC council at present.
The meeting will also be attended by GCC Secretary General Jamil Al Hujailan and Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs Ajlan Al Kowary, said Commerce and Industry Ministry Director of Commerce Relations Abdulrazzak Zainalabedin.
The GCC Industrial Ministerial meeting, on September 24, will discuss obstacles to intra-GCC trade, besides reviewing the findings of a study on encouraging the development of trade.
The meeting will also discuss two proposed laws on anti-dumping measures and procedures to safeguard against dumping.
A report from the Doha-based Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting on revision of rules related to industrial projects in the GCC will also be discussed as well as preparations for conferences between industrial sectors in the GCC and those from other economic blocs, said the paper.
On September 25, the meeting will focus on trade issues followed by a meeting of the GCC Standardization and Metrology Organization (GSMO).
Trade issues to be discussed include obstacles to trade, regulations concerning share trading and e-commerce.
The meeting will also focus on coordinating the GCC position on WTO issues, in preparation for the fourth ministerial meeting of the WTO, which is to be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 9 to 13.
The meeting will be attended by delegations from all the 144 members of the WTO, including Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait and Oman, besides Qatar.
Saudi Arabia is the only GCC state which is not a member of the WTO at present.
The Doha conference follows on from the WTO ministerial meeting held in Seattle, Washington, US, in December last year, which was scuttled by violent street protests.
"The GCC ministerial meeting will be the last on WTO issues until the conference is held although the ministers will hold meetings during the Doha conference," said Zainalabedin – Albawaba.com
