By RODOLFO C. ESTIMO JR.
RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministers of labor and social development met on Tuesday in the Saudi capital for the 33rd time, stressing the need for joint action to achieve development goals.
Saudi Labor and Social Development Minister Mufrej Al-Haqabani chaired the meeting. In his keynote address, he underlined the importance of implementing the decision the Supreme Council took during its 36th session held in Riyadh in December 2015, which was to implement Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman’s vision of promoting joint GCC action.
“The vision of King Saman is to strengthen the blessed march of the GCC and its regional and international status,” said Al-Haqabani, adding that this can be done through joint action in several related sectors and social development fields, and should include achieving the common GCC market.
“This would make the public and private sectors treat Gulf countries’ citizens with total equality,” he said, adding that it would also engender volunteer work and the creation of mechanisms to achieve integration and ensure the protection of the rights of people with disabilities in GCC member states, as well as strategic and economic partnerships that benefit the citizens of Gulf countries.
Al-Haqabani also said that King Salman’s vision will contribute to making the GCC leaders’ aspiration to reach sustainable development, and increase the productivity and competitiveness of their workforce a reality.
Public and private sectors partnership will help raise the level of income of GCC citizens and their wellbeing, he added.
Some companies in the private sector in the GCC and Yemen were appreciated for their role in the GCC’s campaign to give jobs to their nationals.
Two were mentioned from each country.
They are: Aldar Properties and Serco Limited, from the UAE; Creditmax Company and Junaid Perfumes, from Bahrain; Saudi Technology & Electricity Comprehensive Control Co. Ltd. and Alhanaa Trading Group, from Saudi Arabia; Oman Airports Management Company and Delma Energy, from Oman; Nasraf Al-Rayan and Qatari Diar, from Qatar; Boubyan Bank and Kuwait International Bank, from Kuwait; and Binzeela Hospital and Basa Industrial Complex, from Yemen.
Also announced at the meeting were small-scale firms slated to receive awards for their projects, one from each country.
They are: Ixtel Technologies (UAE), Jisr Factory for Distillation of Herbal Water (Bahrain); Alpha Medical Labs (Saudi Arabia); White Hands Center for Assistive Technology & Rehabilitation (Oman); Ebtecar for Digital Solutions Company (Qatar); Al-Douayj General Trading and Contracting Group (Kuwait); and Development of Small Craft Industries for Poor Women (Yemen).
A Yemeni national, Salem Said Ahmed Qamsi, was also praised for his role in the field of labor in the GCC.
© Arab News 2016
