Saudi, Thai Officials Discuss Free Trade Agreement between GCC, Thailand

Saudi Minister of Commerce, Majid al-Qasabi with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand Jurin Laksanawisit (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Commerce, Majid al-Qasabi with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand Jurin Laksanawisit (SPA)
TT

Saudi, Thai Officials Discuss Free Trade Agreement between GCC, Thailand

Saudi Minister of Commerce, Majid al-Qasabi with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand Jurin Laksanawisit (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Commerce, Majid al-Qasabi with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand Jurin Laksanawisit (SPA)

The Saudi Minister of Commerce, Majid al-Qasabi, discussed on Sunday in Riyadh with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand Jurin Laksanawisit the ways to strengthen fraternal ties between the two countries at the governmental and private levels.

The two officials discussed the possibility of signing a free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Thailand.

Interlocutors addressed the ways of boosting cooperation in commercial and investment fields, including agriculture, industry, tourism, food industries, and entrepreneurship for small and medium enterprises.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Bin Aqeel al-Khateeb, Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed al-Rajhi, and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar al-Khorayef.

The meeting was also attended by Governor of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) Saad al-Qasabi, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) Hisham al-Jadhey, and Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Ajlan al-Ajlan.

More than 200 representatives of Saudi and Thai companies participated in the Saudi-Thai Business Forum held Monday at the Federation of Saudi Chambers headquarters in Riyadh.

The forum aims to encourage commercial partnership between the two countries' business sectors, sign bilateral partnership agreements, and discuss prospects for cooperation in various economic sectors.



GCC Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
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GCC Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed on Wednesday the agreement between the legitimate Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi militias to de-escalate the situation with regard to the Yemeni banking sector and airlines.

The agreement was announced by the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, on Tuesday.

Albudaiwi expressed the GCC's support for all regional and international efforts and the efforts led by the UN special envoy aimed at achieving peace and security in Yemen.

The announcement underscores the importance the international community attaches to the Yemeni crisis, he added, hoping the agreement will pave the way for Yemeni parties to start the political process, under UN auspices, to reach a comprehensive political solution that achieves security and stability in the country.

He reiterated the GCC's continued support and full solidarity with Yemen, its government and people, and its keenness to encourage all efforts to de-escalate and maintain stability in order to reach peace.