By Nawaf Al-Diqbasi
DOHA, Dec 8 (KUNA) -- President of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al-Ghanim expressed here on Monday optimism that the Gulf Cooperation Council would advance to a higher level to reflect the Gulf countries' economic power, similar to other major economic entities such as the EU.
Al-Ghanim said in a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after the 45th meeting of the Board of Directors of the GCC Chambers Federation that the prospective 35th GCC summit is very important for mending fences and purification of the atmosphere among the GCC states.
He expressed hope that the GCC states "begin a new journey for the future for the sake of its peoples' welfare".
He explained that the importance of the Doha summit comes following the resolving of some Gulf differences, thanking His Highness the Amir for his noble efforts in this regard.
Al-Ghanim added that the annual meeting of the GCC Chambers Federation is an important gathering to solve a lot of problems that hinder the Gulf economic interdependence in the presence of all heads of GCC Chambers of Commerce.
He noted to an earlier meeting today with the Qatari Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Naser Al Thani, describing the meeting as "successful and frank on many subjects".
He said the meeting dealt with the obstacles hampering Gulf economic integration, especially with regard to the opening of offices and granting of commercial licenses for the Gulf nationals within the State of Qatar, stressing responsiveness and understanding of the Qatari side which promised to solve them all.
Al-Ghanim pointed out that today's meeting also touched on ways of activating decisions of the previous GCC summits which have not been completed or not yet activated.
He explained that the heads of the GCC chambers had held a meeting with Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdullatif Al-Zayani to discuss a number of obstacles and he promised to convey them to the Gulf leaders.
He stressed that the State of Kuwait is one of the most Gulf states that is keen to activate economic and trade agreements, particularly with regard to opening of offices and granting of commercial licenses for the Gulf nationals without the need for a Kuwaiti partner.
Al-Ghanim said that Kuwait is open to the GCC nationals who wish to open offices or companies in the country. (end) nnd