The Deputies of the Ministries of Trade of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries held their 61st preparatory meeting today, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Kuwait, and it was attended by H.E. Mr. Fareed Al-Asaly Deputy Governor for International Organizations and Agreement.

During the meeting, several agenda items were discussed in preparation for the 69th Ministerial Meeting on Commercial Cooperation of the GCC countries, and it aimed to strengthen cooperation among GCC countries. Moreover, key topics included reviewing the work of the Investment Deputies Committee, following up on the latest developments in drafting unified GCC commercial laws, updates from the Patent Office at the Secretariat, discussing member states proposals submitted to the Trade Cooperation Committee to provide guidance, and following up the outcomes and achievements of the subcommittees under the Trade Cooperation Committee, including the Internal Trade Committee, External Trade Committee, Small and Medium Enterprises and entrepreneurship, Consumer Protection Committee, and the teams emanating from these committees.

The Deputies also welcomed Saudi Arabia’s announcement, made during the recent General Council meeting of the World Trade Organization in Geneva, of its official intention to host the 15th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC15) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2028.

The meeting was held in preparation for the 69th meeting of the Ministers of Trade and Industry of the GCC countries, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in Kuwait.