KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Khalifa Al-Ajeel, reaffirmed Wednesday the country’s commitment to enhancing economic and industrial integration among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Speaking at the 68th Ministerial Meeting of the GCC Trade Cooperation Committee, hosted in Kuwait, Al-Ajeel emphasized the importance of coordinating trade and industrial policies and unifying Gulf positions amid rapid global economic changes.
He praised the GCC Secretariat’s efforts in following up on committee decisions and strengthening joint action, describing the Gulf region today as an influential global economic force. “Our historical ties, strategic interests, and vast market size offer a great opportunity to turn challenges into prospects, boost trade among member states, and open new horizons for Gulf investments, products and services,” he said.
Al-Ajeel stressed the growing importance of supporting entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), calling them “drivers of change, innovation, and future job creation.” He urged GCC governments to maintain robust support for SMEs and to adopt joint initiatives that help these companies thrive and become influential players regionally and globally.
Quoting His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Al-Ajeel noted: “Amid complex global economic challenges threatening our development and prosperity, we must accelerate our efforts toward Gulf economic integration through unified policies, diversifying income sources, facilitating trade and investment, supporting local industries, and expanding innovation and entrepreneurship — particularly in new fields such as artificial intelligence.”
During the 54th meeting of the GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee, Al-Ajeel further called for enhanced industrial integration to keep pace with global shifts, emphasizing the need for unified standards and innovation as engines of future industrial growth. In his remarks at the 9th Ministerial Meeting for Standardization Affairs, he stressed the need for a unified vision to support Gulf inventors and bolster national industries and logistics sectors to strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.
Al-Ajeel reiterated Kuwait’s commitment to backing all initiatives that promote Gulf industrial cooperation and serve the collective interests of GCC states. The meetings gathered GCC ministers of commerce and industry, heads of standardization bodies, and GCC Secretariat representatives to discuss key economic and industrial issues. They also served as a continuation of preparatory meetings by undersecretaries, aiming to finalize priority topics for ministerial decision-making. — KUNA
