The GCC Ministerial Committee for Planning and Development discussed the establishment of a regional statistics center Tuesday during the 22nd session of its General Secretariat Tuesday. Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Dr. Muhammad Al-Jasser said at a press conference held after the meeting. He noted that the center would provide comprehensive and comparable statistical data on all of the GCC countries. The meeting also discussed housing issues and foreign employment influence on the economy of the Gulf countries. Al-Jasser expressed his aspiration that the results of this meeting would be a productive and positive move forward to the creation of a Gulf union instead of the current GCC body. He further said that new developments have added more responsibility to the committee for it has to measure up to the aspiration of the of the GCC leaders and people by strengthening the joint work in the area of planning and development to attain the goals drawn up by the leaders. Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Dhyani, GCC Secretary General, said the GCC has accomplished several remarkable achievements during the last 31 years at all levels, foremost of which is the economic integration. __
