GAFT Leads Saudi Negotiating Team in GCC-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement Talks

The General Authority of Foreign Trade (GAFT), represented by Deputy Governor for International Organizations and Agreements and Chairman of the Saudi Negotiating Team Fareed Al-Asaly, is leading the Saudi negotiating team in the second round of negotiations on the free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Indonesia. The discussions are taking place at the GCC headquarters in Riyadh from February 3 to 6, 2025.
 The Saudi negotiating team is responsible for overseeing and advancing trade negotiations to align with the Kingdom's trade policies and objectives. The team also plays a key role in integrating Saudi Arabia’s positions in the negotiations and coordinating with nations that share similar trade interests.
 The delegation consists of nine technical teams covering various sectors, including goods, services, investment, general provisions, e-commerce, intellectual property, government procurement, rules of origin, and economic evaluation. These teams, comprising representatives from approximately 46 government agencies, are tasked with shaping Saudi Arabia's stance in international trade negotiations, formulating proposals, and submitting reports on trade agreements and World Trade Organization (WTO) initiatives.
 As of the third quarter of 2024, trade between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia reached approximately $5 billion. The Kingdom's key exports to Indonesia included mineral and organic chemical products, while major Indonesian exports to Saudi Arabia comprised automobiles, vehicle parts, and animal or vegetable fats and oils.