RIYADH, 10 December 2003 — Major economic issues such as the GCC monetary union, the unified currency, the power grid project and the joint oil pipeline will top the agenda of the upcoming GCC summit in Kuwait, according to the group’s secretary-general.
Speaking to Oman’s Al-Watan Arabic daily, Abdul Rahman Al-Atiyya said the Dec. 21 summit will also discuss measures to develop school curricula in the six member states.
Al-Atiyya yesterday held talks with Iraqi Foreign Minister Heshar Zebari in Manama when he praised the Iraqi Governing Council’s efforts to bring about peace and stability in the war-torn country. He also reiterated the GCC’s support for Iraq’s reconstruction.
Meanwhile, a GCC working group was scheduled to meet here yesterday to study the problems of growing unemployment in the member states.
“This is the first such meeting organized by the GCC Secretariat in a move to provide employment to the growing number of Gulf nationals,” said a statement released by the secretariat.
A GCC official contacted by Arab News would not explain the details of the proposals by member states. But he said the meeting would seek tighter restrictions on recruitment of expatriates.
“Saudi Arabia alone has reported that the rate of unemployment among its nationals stands at 8.34 percent,” according to Dr. Abdul Wahid Al-Humaid, secretary-general of the Manpower Council of the Kingdom.
