Manama : Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, chaired a meeting between the Ministers of Commerce of GCC member states and Chris Bryant, UK Minister for Trade.
The meeting was held via videoconference on the sidelines of the Industrial and Commercial Cooperation Committee meetings of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), chaired by the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the GCC, attended the meeting.
In his remarks, Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro emphasised the deep well-established relations between the GCC countries and the United Kingdom, highlighting the mutual trust, shared interests, and unified vision for achieving stability and prosperity.
He also stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen cooperation between the GCC and the United Kingdom, particularly in light of the economic and trade challenges at both regional and international levels resulting from the hostile and reprehensible Iranian attacks targeting the Gulf states. He noted that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of international laws and norms and pose a direct threat to regional stability and economic security, in addition to their impact on the stability of international trade and global supply chains.
The minister further noted that accelerating the completion of the anticipated free trade agreement (FTA) between the GCC and the United Kingdom represents a shared strategic priority. He explained that the agreement will serve as a key milestone in opening new economic opportunities, enhancing market access, and supporting sustainable growth for both sides. It will also help boost investment flows and strengthen cooperation in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, clean energy, and services.
The meeting also reviewed the latest developments regarding the GCC–UK Free Trade Agreement.
