At the invitation of HE the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation, their Excellencies, the GCC Ministers of Commerce held on Thursday, 2 April 2020, a video conference to discuss the economic effects of the emerging Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. This is in light of the role of the GCC ministries of commerce in ensuring the availability of basic and necessary commodities for the citizens and residents of the GCC states, standing with the private sector to enable it to play its role in the economy under the current exceptional circumstances, and evaluating the developments and precautionary measures undertaken by the GCC states to confront this epidemic.

The meeting was chaired by HE Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, in the presence of their Excellencies the Ministers of Commerce in the GCC states and the participation of HE the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

During the meeting, the Ministers of Commerce reviewed the recommendations submitted by their Excellencies, Undersecretaries of the GCC Ministries of Commerce, especially the importance of cooperation in ensuring the flow of basic goods and services to the citizens and residents of the GCC states on a regular basis, and taking note of the precautionary measures and efforts undertaken and carried out by member states to limit the spread of the Coronavirus, as well as the urgent initiatives undertaken by the GCC states to support the private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises, and the economic activities affected by this epidemic.

Their Excellencies the Ministers affirmed the importance of stressing the smooth flow of goods between the GCC states, so that the precautionary measures taken by the GCC states to limit the spread of the Coronavirus do not affect the flow of goods, and the importance of keeping airports, ports and land ports open for the movement of goods between member states. They also approved the formation of a working group from the ministries of commerce in the GCC states to coordinate in solving, following up and overcoming any obstacles facing the flow of goods between the GCC states.