Riyadh, Aug 24 (IANS): India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held discussions on cooperation between the two sides, including Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
The discussions took place during a meeting between India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Vipul, and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. The two sides also discussed regional and global developments of mutual interest.
“Ambassador Shri Vipul met H.E. Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), today. Both discussed India-GCC cooperation, including FTA negotiations and strengthening high-level engagements. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest,” the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia posted on X.In February, India and the GCC signed the Terms of Reference to guide the negotiations for the India-GCC FTA.
The Terms of Reference (ToR), which will define the scope and modalities of the talks, were signed between Additional Secretary and Chief Negotiator, Department of Commerce, Ajay Bhadoo, and the GCC Secretariat General’s Chief Negotiator, Raja Al Marzouqi, in the presence of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
