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GCC, UK Aim to Finalize Free Trade Agreement

A part of the videoconference between GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi and UK’s Minister of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan and several officials from both sides.
A part of the videoconference between GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi and UK’s Minister of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan and several officials from both sides.
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GCC, UK Aim to Finalize Free Trade Agreement

A part of the videoconference between GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi and UK’s Minister of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan and several officials from both sides.
A part of the videoconference between GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi and UK’s Minister of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan and several officials from both sides.

Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the UK are set to resume in London at the end of this month, marking the sixth round of talks.

Considered crucial by GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi, this round aims to remove all obstacles to finalize an FTA between the parties.

Al-Budaiwi discussed the negotiations’ progress with UK’s Minister of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan, stating that teams are working to overcome challenges and reach a consensus.

The main focus areas requiring final agreement are commodity markets, investment, and financial services, according to recent information.

There have been five rounds of talks between the two sides to secure an FTA. The initial round took place when Trevelyan visited Riyadh on June 22, 2022.

Greg Hands, the UK’s Minister of State for Trade Policy, acknowledged the customary challenges in such negotiations, emphasizing the need for both sides to prioritize their interests and make concessions as they work on a total of 72 trade agreements.

Highlighting the advantages of the agreement, Hands said it’s expected to “boost the annual economic growth of GCC countries by over one billion pounds sterling.”

“Our yearly trade with GCC nations stands at 61 billion pounds sterling,” noted Hands.

The British minister stressed how crucial trade is for strengthening relationships with friends.

He highlighted the GCC as one of the UK’s major trading partners, affirming that the UK’s trade partnership with the Gulf goes beyond expectations.

These talks come more than a year after Britain left the EU. The British government sees the FTA as a big economic opportunity and a significant moment in the relationship between the UK and the GCC.

Recent data from the GCC Statistical Center reveals that trade between the UK and Gulf countries reached $39.6 billion by the end of 2022, up from $23.7 billion in 2021.

Free trade talks aim to lower tariffs and encourage mutual investment.

“The UK is a top six investor in the GCC with £31 billion invested in new projects over the last 20 years,” UK Chief Negotiator for the UK-GCC FTA Tom Wintle told Asharq Al-Awsat in August.

An FTA would offer British investors increased access to the Gulf market, supporting innovation and digital trade by fostering opportunities in emerging tech areas like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.