Manama: As part of the Kingdom of Bahrain's presidency of the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Abdulrahman Abdullah Al Thawadi, Deputy Chief Executive for Insurance Affairs at the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO), chaired the remote 64th meeting of the Technical Committee of Pension and Social Insurance Agencies in GCC countries.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Al Thawadi expressed Bahrain's commitment to supporting joint GCC work and commended the role of the General Secretariat in coordinating committee efforts. He highlighted Bahrain's initiatives to enhance the social insurance system, which include expanding e-services, simplifying procedures, and improving institutional efficiency to better serve beneficiaries.
The committee's discussions focused on several key agenda items, including the implementation of the 2026-2030 plans and programmes of the Heads of Pension and Social Insurance Agencies Committee. The exchange of expertise among member states and developing systems and benefits for retirees under the "GCC Appreciation" initiative were also addressed.
Additionally, the meeting covered updates to the unified system for extending insurance protection, developments in electronic linkage between systems, joint awareness campaigns, and preparations for training and qualification programmes. The development of specialised insurance packages and international participation were also on the agenda.
The meeting further reviewed initiatives and technical practices presented by member states. These efforts focus on developing insurance policies, improving administrative efficiency, and expanding social protection coverage. The discussions reflect GCC countries' commitment to modernising their systems in line with best practices.