Manama: The Advisory Board of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held its first meeting of the 29th session, chaired by Dr. Shaikha Maryam bint Hassan Al Khalifa, President of the Advisory Board. The meeting saw the participation of Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, and other board members.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting included Sultan bin Nasser Al Suwaidi, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal and Legislative Affairs, and Ambassador Hamed bin Saeed Al Ebrahim, Director-General of the Advisory Board Office. The session began with a speech by Nasser Abdullah Al Roudan, Chairperson of the 28th session, praising the development and progress in the Kingdom under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Dr. Shaikha Maryam bint Hassan emphasized the board's significant standing with His Majesty the King and expressed hope that the session would address the aspirations of GCC leaders. She highlighted the board's responsibility in studying key issues like digital currencies and technological impacts on the labor market, aiming to develop sustainable solutions.
Acknowledging the support from the GCC Secretary-General, Dr. Shaikha Maryam thanked Al Roudan for his leadership and welcomed Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Haqbani as the new Vice-Chairperson. She detailed the board's history and its role in providing research and proposals for the GCC leaders.
The board is tasked with implementing decisions from the 46th session of the Supreme Council, focusing on four main issues. Dr. Al Zayani conveyed greetings from the Kingdom's leadership, stressing the importance of cooperation and integration among GCC states to safeguard their interests and stability.
The Minister affirmed the Kingdom's support for the Advisory Board's role and praised the studies prepared by the board, which have influenced significant decisions by the GCC Supreme Council. He recognized the efforts of the Secretary-General and the General Secretariat in supporting the board's mission.
Secretary-General Al Budaiwi expressed gratitude for the Kingdom's support and emphasized the importance of the Advisory Board in fostering consultation among member states. He noted the board's contribution of over 62 studies, which are now being translated into action plans by the General Secretariat to advance GCC integration and prosperity.