His Excellency Mr. Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), met with His Excellency Dr Raja bin Manahi Al Marzouqi, the newly-appointed General Coordinator for Negotiations and Head of the Negotiating Team of the GCC, on Wednesday (April 5, 2023), at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh, on the occasion of his appointment.
During the meeting, HE the Secretary General congratulated HE the GCC General Coordinator for Negotiations on this great confidence entrusted to him by the Respected Ministerial Council, wishing him success in carrying out his tasks to advance Gulf trade negotiations in a manner that meets the aspirations of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC countries and the peoples of the GCC countries.
The officials also discussed the necessity of benefiting from the Gulf achievements during the blessed course of the Council, in accordance with what was included in the provisions of the economic agreement, and the ability of the GCC countries to play a major role as an economic engine through strategic partnerships and free trade negotiations with a number of countries, regional blocs, and other economic and international groups, and strengthening the means to accelerate its pace in a way that contributes to advancing the process of growth and Gulf economic integration, through plans, visions and development programmes in the GCC countries.
For his part, HE Dr Al Marzouqi extended his thanks to HE the Secretary General for the congratulations, and his sincere appreciation and thanks to their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of the GCC countries, for the confidence in appointing him as the General Coordinator for Negotiations, praying to Allah the Almighty to grant him success in performing the task to the fullest, fulfilling the aspirations of the leaders and peoples of the GCC countries, and consolidating its strategic relations and international standing.
It should be noted that the GCC Ministerial Council issued, on March 22, 2023, its decision to appoint the candidate of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HE Dr Al Marzouqi, as General Coordinator for Negotiations and Head of the Negotiating Team of the GCC. His Excellency had previously worked as a Chief Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Economy and Planning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a faculty member at the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, and a collaborating expert with the International Monetary Fund. He also held several leadership and administrative positions in the government and private sectors, as well as international and regional organisations, the most recent of which was the position of CEO of the Gulf Monetary Council. Dr Al Marzouqi holds a PhD in Economics from Oklahoma State University-Stillwater, a Master's degree in Applied Mathematical Economics from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the United States, and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from King Saud University in Riyadh.