GCC Secretary-General: GCC Approves Five Joint Industrial Investment Opportunities

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi attended the first “Made in GCC 2026” Forum and Exhibition, held under the theme “Toward a More Integrated, Competitive, and Future-Ready Gulf Industrial Economy” on Tuesday, at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, jointly organized by the GCC General Secretariat and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
 “Made in GCC 2026 embodies a shared vision agreed upon by the leaders of the GCC states that industry is a foundational pillar for diversifying the Gulf economy, and that the strength of our economies is measured not only by the resources we possess, but by what we produce and export,” he said.
 He added that the forum carries a clear message that Gulf products should be the first choice for consumers and investors, both within member states and across global markets.
 “This vision did not emerge in a vacuum; joint Gulf industrial action has been built over the years upon a solid foundation of policies and resolutions, unifying standards and specifications, facilitating the movement of industrial goods and materials, protecting Gulf products, promoting fair competition, and supporting supply chain integration. As a result, GCC states today host more than 22,000 factories employing over 1.7 million workers, with manufacturing contributing 13% to the GCC’s gross domestic product (GDP),” the secretary-general explained.
 In the same context, Albudaiwi pointed out that the GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee plays a pivotal role at the heart of this journey in advancing Gulf industrial integration. He stressed that the committee’s efforts have yielded significant milestones, most notably unifying key industrial legislation, adopting the GCC Industrial Strategy 2022–2030, empowering national products, and extending collective protection to Gulf industries.
 On the industrial investment front, Albudaiwi noted that GCC states launched an ambitious project aimed at identifying 20 joint Gulf industrial investment opportunities, having completed five opportunities in its first phase, approved by the Industrial Cooperation Committee, to serve as a foundation for subsequent ventures.
 Elaborating further, Albudaiwi said: “International indicators reaffirm the distinguished global standing achieved by GCC states in the industrial sector. According to the 2025 Competitive Industrial Performance index issued by UNIDO, which assesses manufacturing production and export capacity, technological deepening and upgrading, and global impact, the United Arab Emirates ranked 32nd globally, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 34th, the State of Qatar 48th, the State of Kuwait 53rd, the Sultanate of Oman 58th, and the Kingdom of Bahrain 63rd.”
 He indicated that GCC states occupy six of the top seven positions in the Arab world, with two member states surpassing the global index average. “These figures inspire pride in what has been accomplished and motivate joint efforts toward even greater milestones. When our industrial capabilities integrate and policies unify, member states achieve what no country could accomplish alone, advancing progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure,” he affirmed.
 Moreover, he indicated that over its duration, the forum will feature sessions bringing together ministers, private sector leaders, and experts to focus on several key pillars—foremost among them: Gulf policies for global market access, industrial integration and achieving self-sufficiency, enhancing supply chain resilience, financing mechanisms and industrial partnerships, smart factories and open industrial innovation, qualifying and employing Gulf talent, and industrial infrastructure and economic zones.
 He also expressed his aspiration that “Made in GCC 2026” will yield clear messages, actionable recommendations, and genuine partnerships among manufacturers, investors, financing institutions, and knowledge entities, bolstering the competitiveness of Gulf industry and cementing the status of “Made in GCC” as a hallmark of pride.