GCC Secretary General hails UAE's regional, international role

SPA (File Photo)

Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, has praised the UAE's commitment, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to boost cooperation and drive progress among the member nations.

In an interview with national news agency WAM on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS), AlBudaiwi emphasised the UAE's active contribution to fostering commercial, industrial and investment integration among GCC nations.

The GCC General Secretariat is implementing a set of targets via the Economic and Development Affairs Authority, focusing on completing the Customs Union and establishing the GCC Common Market and Economic Nationality.

The Secretary-General highlighted the significant opportunities presented by the GCC's economic strength and strategic location, noting the bloc's central position between East and West. He underlined the GCC's pursuit of balanced policies with international powers and its investment in sustainable development to achieve stability and prosperity.

This approach, he said, enhances the GCC countries' ability to address current and future changes in the global economy and supply chains and tackle various challenges with a unified vision.

He commended the UAE's  commitment as a reliable partner in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, its proactive response to the global energy crisis and praised the country's hosting of significant international events, including Expo 2020 Dubai and COP28.

Highlighting the significance of the World Governments Summit (WGS), AlBudaiwi underscored its importance as a global knowledge platform launched to address various global challenges and promote cooperation among governments, civil society, and the private sector.

He stated that the 11th edition addresses urgent global challenges such as political, economic, and social issues and climate, food, water, and energy security. There are also many new challenges that cannot be solved by traditional methods, he said, coupled with the increasing role of technology and artificial intelligence in guiding economies and the work of governments, organisations, and institutions.

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