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Türkiye-Gulf Free Trade Talks Signal New Phase of Cooperation

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Turkish Minister of Trade during the signing of the joint declaration to commence negotiations on the free trade agreement in Ankara last Thursday ( The Turkish Minister’s account on “X”)
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Turkish Minister of Trade during the signing of the joint declaration to commence negotiations on the free trade agreement in Ankara last Thursday ( The Turkish Minister’s account on “X”)
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Türkiye-Gulf Free Trade Talks Signal New Phase of Cooperation

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Turkish Minister of Trade during the signing of the joint declaration to commence negotiations on the free trade agreement in Ankara last Thursday ( The Turkish Minister’s account on “X”)
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Turkish Minister of Trade during the signing of the joint declaration to commence negotiations on the free trade agreement in Ankara last Thursday ( The Turkish Minister’s account on “X”)

Türkiye and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have taken a significant step in their economic ties by signing a joint declaration to start talks on a free trade agreement, an idea that’s been on the table for over 20 years.

Last Thursday in Ankara, Türkiye's Trade Minister Omer Bolat and GCC Secretary-General Jasim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi signed an agreement to begin negotiations for a free trade deal worth $2.4 trillion.

The aim is to create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, freeing up trade in goods and services and making it easier for investments. This move is strategic, given the changing global economic landscape.

This agreement reflects a positive shift in relations between Türkiye and the Gulf states, showing efforts to overcome past political differences and boost cooperation in various areas.

Al-Budaiwi praised the declaration as a sign of the strong bond between the GCC countries and Türkiye, emphasizing their significant role regionally and globally, especially in trade, economy, and finance.

Bolat expressed confidence in the upcoming negotiations for the free trade agreement, expecting them to wrap up swiftly.

In recent months, after Türkiye's elections in May, there have been several visits from Turkish officials to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as relations normalize. Officials from both sides focused on boosting economic and trade ties.

In November, Istanbul hosted a Gulf-Turkish economic forum, highlighting investment opportunities. Ministers, officials, and businessmen attended from both sides.

During the forum, Türkiye's Treasury and Finance Minister, Mehmet Simsek, stressed that increased cooperation would lead to benefits like free trade agreements.

He also mentioned opportunities for diversifying Gulf production, boosting trade, and investing in sectors like tourism and construction.

During a meeting in Riyadh last February, Al-Budaiwi stressed the importance of boosting cooperation and signing a free trade agreement between Türkiye and the GCC. This is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties.

In March 2023, Türkiye and the GCC adopted a joint action plan for 2023-2027, showing their commitment to deepen relations.

Trade between Türkiye and the Gulf Cooperation Council reached $26 billion, but experts believe there's more economic potential.

Between 2002 and 2022, Gulf countries invested $11.4 billion in various Turkish sectors.

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Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
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Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA

The Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM) hosted the Berne Union's Country Risk Specialist Meeting, providing a platform for experts and thought leaders in risk management from the export credit community.
At the meeting, which took place from November 19 to 21 in Riyadh, the attendees exchanged best practices to better protect the industry amid shifting global dynamics.
According to a statement issued by the Saudi EXIM on Saturday, the event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions.
By strengthening institutional resilience, the industry is ready to turn global economic challenges into opportunities for economic prosperity, said the statement, adding that it played a crucial role in advancing global trade, strengthening international cooperation, and developing credit solutions that empower export activities while controlling risk, SPA reported.
According to the statement, discussions centered on critical risks impacting international trade and the global economy, such as debt sustainability and geopolitical tensions, along with innovative approaches to risk modelling. Participants also explored the global shifts in infrastructure, energy and critical minerals sectors, and were given an overview of Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Strategy, which focuses on economic diversification through investments, developing new sectors, and promoting local industries.
In his opening remarks, Saudi EXIM CEO Eng. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalb said the meeting is an ideal platform to address risks impacting global economic decision making.
He stated: "Through such meetings, we can turn challenges into strategic opportunities and enhance our resilience in an ever-changing world. At Saudi EXIM, we remain committed to enabling companies by offering expert financial and non-financial solutions to navigate risks effectively."
He also said that "at Saudi EXIM, we place great emphasis on risk management. In alignment with the main objective of this meeting, I am pleased to announce the completion of our independent country risk model, which is supported by advanced modelling tools and machine learning. This model will provide country ratings and predictions of default risks. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in other export credit agencies to exchange knowledge and expertise, and to strengthening our risk management functions with greater responsibility and effectiveness."
Associate Director at Berne Union Eve Hall said: "The global risk landscape today is highly volatile and highly interconnected. As we navigate our way around the ongoing transformations connected to energy transition and shifting industrial strategies, the traditional concept of 'country risk' is becoming increasingly complex. Our industry excels at understanding, quantifying and pricing these risks, and by bringing together this community of experts for technical exchange the Berne Union is able to help support the development of the industry as a whole. The initiatives announced by our colleagues at Saudi EXIM, making use of new technology in risk analysis, provide a fantastic example of where collaboration in this field can be effectively applied."
The statement disclosed that Saudi EXIM's membership in Berne represents a significant strategic step, and is consistent with the Kingdom's commitment to expanding collaboration and integration in the global economy.
This is achieved by building partnerships with leading institutions to address the challenges facing the export credit sector. It also aligns with the bank's goal of developing the export of national products and services through partnerships with national and international financial and funding organizations.
Berne Union works with global trade organizations to encourage the adoption of best practices in export credit insurance, and to cooperate in maintaining the stability of global trade.
Saudi EXIM, a development bank under the National Development Fund, contributes to diversifying the Kingdom's economic base by improving the efficiency of non-oil export ecosystems, bridging financial gaps, and minimizing export risks. This plays a role in helping the non-oil national economy grow, in line with Vision 2030.