Riyadh: Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of Customs, led the Kingdom of Bahrain's delegation to the 13th meeting of the Executive Council of the Customs Union Authority, held in Saudi Arabia. The meeting focused on evaluating the minutes and reports of the technical committees and working groups and discussed updates on strategic projects.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the agenda included reviewing the implementation status of resolutions from the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee and the Executive Council of the Customs Union Authority. The meeting also assessed the operational work of the Authority and its draft budget for 2026.
The meeting concluded with several recommendations, including the approval of the Authority's budget for 2025-2026. There was an emphasis on expediting the implementation of the Executive Council's decisions to meet the Gulf Customs Union's requirements. The Customs Union Authority was tasked with enhancing communication with partner entities within the Union and ensuring all procedural aspects are addressed. Specialised committees were directed to review customs procedures in light of the full implementation of the GCC Customs Union.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the new headquarters of the Customs Union Authority was inaugurated in Riyadh. This event was attended by Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the heads of customs authorities.