Riyadh, August 30, 2023, Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said that through negotiating free-trade agreements, the GCC nations hope to expand their international trade and draw in foreign capital. This occurred today at the Riyadh offices of the General Secretariat during a meeting between the secretary-general of the GCC and Damien O'Connor, the Minister of Trade and Export Growth of New Zealand. The development of the outstanding issues between the two sides to conclude a free-trade agreement between the GCC and New Zealand was discussed during the meeting, according to the GCC secretary-general, as well as trade cooperation between the GCC countries and New Zealand.
At the meeting's conclusion, Albudaiwi emphasized the importance of economic agreements for the GCC nations' economic development and the improvement of their trade ties with other nations and international organizations, particularly at a time when the global economy is facing significant challenges and changes.
