Doha, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), participated in the sixth meeting of the Permanent Preparatory Committee at the ministerial level for the Economic and Development Affairs Authority of the GCC, held in Qatar. The meeting was chaired by Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Qatari Minister of Finance - President of the current session - with the participation of the Ministers of Economy from the GCC countries. The secretary general said that the GCC's expansion has gained global attention, marking a significant shift due to the region's promising economic and trade prospects, rapid growth, favourable business environment, and government initiatives supporting entrepreneurs and investors. At the beginning of his speech, the GCC Secretary General expressed his appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, who is also the President of the current session of the Supreme Council, and to the Qatari government, for hosting the sixth meeting o f the Permanent Preparatory Committee at the ministerial level for the Economic and Development Affairs Authority of the GCC. He acknowledged the facilities and support provided by Qatar to ensure the success of the GCC's work and the attention and support that the joint Gulf efforts receive, in line with the directives of the leaders of the GCC countries, and the aspirations of their peoples for greater connectivity, cooperation, and integration. Moreover, Albudaiwi said that the directives of the leaders of the GCC countries always focus on enhancing diligent and continuous work to advance the GCC's journey, achieving numerous joint Gulf accomplishments and projects, and benefiting from the achievements realised to serve the GCC countries and their peoples. "The Supreme Council, in its 44th session, directed the specialised agencies in member states, the General Secretariat, and the ministerial and technical committees to double their efforts to complete the requirements of the customs union and finalise the establishment of the Gulf Common Market, in accordance with previous council decisions, and to expedite the achievement of economic unity among the GCC countries," the secretary general said. He praised the valuable efforts of the Permanent Preparatory Committee at the ministerial level for the Economic and Development Affairs Authority, aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and integration among the GCC countries, in implementation of the directives and aspirations of the leaders of the GCC countries. He said that the challenges resulting from global economic trends amidst current political crises, which reflect on the economies of GCC countries due to their openness to the world, necessitate the importance of responding to these challenges and taking all necessary measures to confront them and mitigate their impacts. Albudaiwi highlighted the resilience of GCC states in overcoming challenges, even in difficult circumstances, through effective policies and strategic navigation. Despite global econom ic challenges, he noted that the World Bank has projected the Gulf region's economy to grow by more than 4% in 2025, surpassing major global economies. This growth is expected to be led by non-oil sectors, demonstrating the region's economic strength and diversification efforts. Source: Bahrain News Agency