Chairman of Qatar Chamber, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, during a virtual meeting between the GCC Ministers of Commerce and Industry and Presidents of Unions and Chambers.
Doha: Chairman of Qatar Chamber, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, participated in the consultive meeting between the GCC Ministers of Commerce and Industry and presidents of Unions and Chambers held virtually yesterday.
The meeting discussed topics related to enhancing cooperation in the industrial and commercial sectors between member countries. During the webinar, Qatar Chamber called for reactivating free trade negotiations between the GCC and the European Union (EU) and other countries such as UK and Australia and other economic blocs.
Speaking during the webinar, Sheikh Khalifa stressed the importance of reviving free trade negotiations and concluding similar agreements with other countries such as UK, Australia, and major economic blocs, pointing out that it is essential for GCC states to adopt a unified position when concluding more economic agreements with world countries in a way that better benefit Gulf citizens.
He also outlined the great and positive impact that will be reflected on trade in the GCC countries in case of resuming the round of negotiations with the European Union countries that started in Riyadh and Brussels earlier and stopped for a long time.
Sheikh Khalifa noted that the renegotiation of a free-trade agreement will contribute to establishing easy procedures of import and export operations and will have a positive impact on business owners in the region.
The webinar also reviewed other topics such as industrial integration in the health, medical, agricultural and food industries as well as investment in food security. The meeting also discussed two proposals to establish a rapid traceability system for foodstuffs and medicines in the GCC countries to address various crises and epidemics, and to develop a mechanism for VAT refund.
