Kuwait city: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi affirmed that the Gulf achievements in transportation and communications reflect the depth of integration among the GCC states and the benefits of the wise policies adopted since the council's inception.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Albudaiwi highlighted that Article 23 of the Economic Agreement stipulates that "member states shall integrate aviation and air transport policies and work to develop and integrate land and sea transportation methods to facilitate the movement of citizens and goods, achieving economies of scale."
The secretary-general's statements came during the 27th meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee of Transport and Communications, held today in Kuwait City. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Public Works of the State of Kuwait and president of the current session Dr. Noura Mohammed Al Mashaan and attended by ministers and members of the committee from the GCC states.
At the outset of his speech, Albudaiwi expressed gratitude to Amir of Kuwait Shaikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for hosting the meeting and for Kuwait's ongoing support to ensure the success of the GCC's work. He also acknowledged the attention that joint Gulf action receives from the leaders of the GCC states in all fields.
Moreover, he stated that the council's journey has achieved significant accomplishments, emphasizing that the directives of the GCC leaders stress the necessity of advancing towards greater integration. "This aligns with the aspirations and ambitions of GCC citizens, which surpass those accomplishments, and challenge us to realize these hopes," he stated.
He added that this represents a strong motivation to deepen the gains achieved and enhance the integration among member states.
Albudaiwi also noted that the Supreme Council, in its 45th session (Kuwait, December 2024), underscored the importance of the member states completing their regulatory procedures for the general agreement to connect the GCC states via the railway project.
He also highlighted the GCC states' gains in transport and transportation, noting that they surpassed the global average for logistics performance competitiveness in 2023, as indicated by the World Bank.
"The GCC states have issued over 5,700 Gulf standard specifications and technical regulations for constructing connecting roads and main roads in the member states as of 2024. In that year, they were ranked among the top 21 emerging and leading global markets in logistics competitiveness, business environment, and digital readiness. These factors enhance the attractiveness of GCC markets for logistics service providers, freight forwarders, and air and maritime transport companies.
The GCC now has over 25 main seaports and more than 23 international airports. The Unified Maritime Operations Centre was established to protect regional waters, ensure freedom of maritime navigation, and provide security, safety, and stability in the GCC region. This affirms our effective position at both regional and international levels and our growing role in guiding the course of the global economy," he highlighted.