Doha: Qatar Chamber hosted on Wednesday a workshop titled “The Role of the Private Sector in Facilitating Trade between GCC Countries” at the Doha Hilton Hotel. The event was organized by the General Secretariat of the Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC) in cooperation with the Gulf Customs Union Authority. The opening session featured keynote addresses by HE Qatar Chamber Board Member Eng. Ali bin Abdul Latif Al Misned, HE FGCCC’s Secretary General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, and HE Executive Director of the GCC Customs Union Authority Dr. Sulaiman bin Masoud Al Ghafri.
According to Qatar News Agency, the event addressed the challenges facing both the public and private sectors in the fields of import and export. It also reviewed the efforts undertaken by official authorities to develop systems and procedures aimed at enhancing the flow of goods, improving supply chain efficiency, and advancing economic integration among GCC countries.
Speaking at the opening session, HE Al Misned emphasized that Gulf economic integration is a necessity driven by shared interests and the aspirations of the region’s peoples for a more prosperous future-especially in light of the economic changes and challenges facing the world. He noted that Qatar Chamber’s hosting of this symposium reflects the great importance it places on promoting intra-regional trade and facilitating import and export procedures, thereby supporting trade and economic cooperation among GCC countries and paving the way for the economic integration they all aspire to achieve.
Al Misned affirmed the Chamber’s full support for any initiatives or recommendations emerging from the workshop that seek to streamline procedures, remove obstacles, and enhance cooperation between official bodies and the private sector. For his part, HE Al Sharqi underscored the Federation’s firm belief in the importance of partnership and integration with the relevant official bodies and authorities in the GCC countries in addressing the challenges facing Gulf private sector companies and in supporting the smooth flow of goods and services across Gulf markets.
He reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to working closely with the GCC General Secretariat and relevant Gulf bodies, as well as with member federations and chambers, to support the process of economic integration and advance the activation of the Gulf Common Market-thereby fulfilling the aspirations of the region’s leaders and peoples for comprehensive development.
In turn, HE Al Ghafri noted that 76% of the projects required to establish the GCC Customs Union had been completed by the end of the first quarter of 2025. He highlighted key achievements, including the launch of the integrated customs tariff for 12 items starting January 1, 2025, the activation of the Gulf Authorized Economic Operator Program, and the gradual implementation of mutual recognition of food imports, with samples now taken from traders’ warehouses instead of customs ports.
He pointed out that completing the requirements for establishing the GCC Customs Union would bring significant economic benefits, create numerous investment opportunities, and provide enhanced customs facilities. He explained that the data of the GCC Statistical Center for 2023 indicates a significant increase in the volume of intra-GCC trade, reaching more than $131 billion, with a growth rate of 3.3 percent. Meanwhile, the volume of foreign merchandise trade among the GCC countries reached $1.5 trillion, with a growth rate of 4 percent. These statistics point to the promising opportunities to enhance joint Gulf trade integration.
The workshop’s first session featured three working papers. The first, presented by the State of Qatar, was titled “Private Sector Commitment to the Necessity of Importers and Exporters Attaching Detailed Invoices to Shipments and Disclosing the Actual Value Paid.” The second, from the Kingdom of Bahrain, was titled “Private Sector Use of Pallets in Trade at the GCC Level.” The third, presented by the State of Kuwait, was titled “Limiting the Import of Goods Without Proof of Origin, Preventing the Import of Counterfeit Goods, and Adhering to the Unified Customs Law and Guide at GCC First Ports of Entry.”
Similarly, the second session also included three papers. The first, presented by the Sultanate of Oman, was titled “Requesting Prior Permits for Importing Restricted Goods from Relevant Government Agencies and Attaching Permits Before Shipments Arrive to Avoid Delays.” The second, from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was titled “Implementing Pre-Clearance.” The third paper reviewed the achievements and future vision of the Customs Union Authority of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.