The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Mohammed Al-Bedaiwi, emphasized the vital role of the Customs Union in enhancing the joint economic work. He highlighted the importance of the Union in achieving the highest levels of economic integration among member states and overcoming challenges hindering its progress. Al-Bedaiwi mentioned the continuous directives of the Gulf leaders to fulfill the aspirations of their citizens and efficiently handle regional and international developments.
During the inauguration ceremony of the Customs Union headquarters in Riyadh, Al-Bedaiwi expressed gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their unlimited support. He acknowledged the enormous achievements made possible by the Kingdom’s backing, allowing the GCC General Secretariat and its affiliated organizations to reach distinguished positions in various fields regionally and internationally.
The successful implementation of the Customs Union was attributed to the guidance and blessings of the GCC leaders. The Union has accomplished numerous achievements on regional and global levels, serving as a successful model for collaboration among member states. Since the establishment of the Customs Union in 2003, Gulf countries have operated as a unified customs barrier to the external world. Following the decision to activate the Union during the 42nd Summit in Riyadh in December 2021, the Union was granted full authority to carry out its duties in alignment with best practices.
Al-Bedaiwi commended the efforts of the Union in implementing joint customs projects and unifying policies across member states, enhancing digital customs operations, and coordinating with relevant government entities to increase intra-GCC trade volume, boost the competitiveness of Gulf companies, and reduce production costs. He expressed optimism in the Union’s ability to achieve its upcoming targets, including enhancing user experiences in a digital environment and adopting modern technologies and practices on a global scale.
