His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), received His Excellency Mr Shri Vipul, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Sunday (August 23, 2026) at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh.
At the beginning of the meeting, HE the Secretary General congratulated HE the Ambassador on his appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in carrying out his duties.
During the meeting, a number of topics of common interest were reviewed, most notably relations between the GCC and India, and ways to develop and enhance them in a manner that serves common interests. The two sides also discussed the latest developments regarding the launch of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the GCC and the Republic of India, signed in February 2026, in addition to preparations for the GCC-India ministerial meeting scheduled to be held next September.
The officials also exchanged views on the latest updates in the region, as well as regional and international developments, affirming the importance of continuing coordination and consultation on issues of common interest in order to contribute to supporting security and stability in the region.
