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First Round of Free Trade Negotiations between Gulf States, Türkiye Begins in Ankara

The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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First Round of Free Trade Negotiations between Gulf States, Türkiye Begins in Ankara

The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Ankara is set to host on Monday the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council and Türkiye.

The talks will extend over three days, with the participation of nine Saudi government agencies, and will focus on a number of topics related to trade in goods and services, investment, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Conferees are set to exchange information and data, discuss challenges and trade opportunities between the concerned parties, and build trust and partnership by identifying areas of cooperation and joint coordination, with the aim of reaching a final comprehensive agreement.

The Saudi government delegation, which is headed by the General Authority for Foreign Trade, includes the Ministries of Energy, Investment, Environment, Water, Agriculture, Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Food and Drug General Authority, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Authority, and the Export Development Authority.

The agreement, when implemented, will give a preferential advantage for the entry of national goods and services into the markets of all concerned parties, in addition to facilitating, encouraging and protecting investments, raising the volume of trade exchange and promoting economic growth and development in the member countries.

The GCC Secretary-General, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, and the Turkish Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat, signed on March 21 a joint statement to launch the negotiations for a free trade agreement in Ankara, highlighting the two sides’ endeavor to develop their strategic partnership.

In a speech during the signing ceremony, Bolat said he was confident of the success of the talks.

He noted that the negotiations between his country and the GCC began in 2005, but were suspended in 2010, stressing that the bilateral economic relations will be more comprehensive and well-defined, and will offer opportunities for development and diversification.

Bolat added that Türkiye attached great importance to a comprehensive deal that regulates important areas such as trade in goods and services, intellectual property rights and customs procedures, as well as facilitating trade and developing cooperation between small and medium-sized companies.

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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.