Riyadh: Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of Customs, chaired Bahrain's delegation at the 12th meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Customs Union Authority, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the delegation was briefed on several critical areas, including the decisions of the Supreme Council and Ministerial Council aimed at finalizing the requirements for establishing the Customs Union. Discussions also covered the Authority's budget for 2025, the ongoing work of the Review Committee, the technical working groups, and updates from the GCC Authorised Economic Operator Committee as well as the Customs Risk Committee.
The meeting focused on reviewing the latest developments in the work of the technical committees and the progress of approved future procedures for the GCC Customs Union. Additionally, there was a follow-up on the implementation of the council's previous decisions, aiming to streamline and enhance the efficiency of customs operations.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Customs Union Authority issued several recommendations. These included completing projects related to the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Union, reviewing customs procedures, and improving mechanisms for exchanges between border checkpoints. The recommendations also aimed to define the Authority's strategic direction for the forthcoming phase, ensuring a more integrated and efficient customs process across the GCC.