SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE RIYADH-BASED GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC) ABDULRAHMAN BIN HAMAD AL-ATIYYAH HAS CONFIRMED THAT AMONG THE MAIN GOALS OF THE GCC IS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF COORDINATION, INTEGRATION AND ASSOCIATION OF ITS MEMBERS IN ALL FIELDS. HE ADDED THAT ENHANCING THE GCC COMMERCIAL TIES TOWARDS ECONOMIC REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BLOCS AIMS AT STRENGTHENING ITS NEGOTIATING MIGHT AND COMPETITIVE ABILITIES IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. IN A SPEECH READ ON HIS BEHALF BY THE GCC ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS MOHAMMED BIN OBAID AL-MAZROOEI, AL-ATIYYAH SAID AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 3RD GCC BUSINESSMEN AND THEIR INDIAN COUNTERPARTS CONFERENCE IN MOMBAY TODAY THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GCC MEMBER COUNTRIES AND INDIA CONTINUE TO CONSTITUTE A PIVOTAL IMPORTANCE IN THE REGION AS EACH REALIZES THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE OTHER. HE SAID THE PROSPECTS OF TIES OF THE TWO BLOCS AUGER WELL, CITING THAT INDIA COULD BE A BIGGER TRADE PARTNER OF THE GCC ECONOMIC BLOC IN THE YEARS AHEAD BASED ON THE GENERAL AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES. HE CALLED ON THE PRIVATE SECTORS IN THE TWO PARTIES TO SEIZE THE AVAILABILITY OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TWO ECONOMIES AND ENTER INTO FORGING PARTNERSHIPS AND ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS.
