HE Mohammed bin Nasser Al Jabri, The Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and HE Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, inaugurated on Monday, 5 November 2018, "the GCC Days" in Kuwait; organized by The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Attended by, several GCC Assistant Secretaries, senior officials of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information and elite of intellectuals, dignitaries and media from all GCC countries.

In his opening speech, HE Mr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Jabri welcomed the distinguished attendance of the opening ceremony of the GCC days; stressing the keenness of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait and Their Majesties and Highnesses leaders of the GCC States, to achieve more coherence, cooperation and integration between the GCC States and their citizens. Stressing the efforts made by our wise leadership to support and fulfill the aspirations of the peoples of the GCC States towards security, advancement and prosperity.

 He stressed that these events are organized to shed light on the GCC blessed journey towards achieving security and stability, avoiding the surrounding unrest and to introduce the GCC pioneering roles in various fields.

His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Nasser Al Jabri appreciated the importance of establishing the economic and trade relations, enhancing culture, encouraging intra-regional tourism and supporting the existing partnership among the GCC countries at all levels, guided by the original values established by the Founding Fathers of a strong Gulf entity that demonstrates the unity of purpose and shared destiny and protects the security and stability of our privileged Gulf within a strategic partnership and sustainable development.

He expressed his thanks to HE the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, for his outstanding efforts and achievements in supporting the GCC journey at all levels, as well as all members of the GCC Days team for their fruitful efforts.

In his address, The Secretary-General extend his deep gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait and Their Majesties and Highnesses leaders of the GCC States, aiming at preserving this blessed process and achieving more coherence, cooperation and integration between the GCC States and their citizens. Stressing the efforts made to support so as to push this blessed process ahead towards its noble goals and to fulfill the aspirations of the peoples of the GCC States towards lasting security, advancement and prosperity.

At the political level, the Secretary-General referred to the high international standing of the GCC as an important and effective regional and international organization; that enable it of building firm relations and broad strategic partnerships with countries and international economic blocs; that aim at enhancing the common interests of the GCC States, intensifying political, security and cultural coordination and developing economic and trade cooperation with these countries and international economic blocs.

At the military level, HE pointed out the areas of the GCC joint defense action that have been enhanced towards more joint integration, cooperation and coordination thus enabling the GCC armed forces to defend the GCC States and protect their achievements and vital interests in implementation of the Joint Defense Agreement that was endorsed in 2000; and The creation of The Peninsula Shield Force. The Agreement stipulates that an attack on any individual GCC State is to be deemed an attack against all GCC States.

On the joint defense cooperation, the Secretary-General referred to the military bodies established and formed to intensify joint defense efforts, such as the GCC Unified Command and Control, then followed the formation of the Unified Maritime Operations Center, initiation of the Maritime Duty Force (81) and activation of the Unified Air Defense Operations Center. And The Currently implemented advanced program for increasing and enhancing defense integration through intensifying joint military exercises and drills between the individual GCC States or with friendly countries and allies.

 At the security level, the Secretary-General mentioned the ongoing cooperation between the GCC States enhancing joint coordination to maintain their security and stability and protect their societies by combating all kinds of crime, confronting the extremist terrorist organizations, endorsing strategic and security agreements and setting up effective security agencies.

In the area of anti-terrorism the Secretary-General referred to the GCC States adoption of the Security Strategy for Countering Terrorist Extremism in 2002 and the Anti-Terrorism Agreement signed in 2004, to intensify their efforts and enhance their joint security cooperation they established the GCC Drug Control Criminal information (Doha) and the GCC Emergency Management Center (Kuwait). Also they recently organized joint security exercise (Arab Gulf Security 1) for the first time hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2016, and the GCC States plan to organize the second exercise in the United Arab Emirates.

At the economic level, the Secretary-General stressed the ambitious future vision to achieve the comprehensive economic unity. Following the adoption of the Economic Agreement 1981(which was revised in 2001), the GCC States, in just a few years, achieved the GCC citizenship and established the GCC Customs Union, the GCC Monetary Union and the Electricity Interconnectivity Project.  HE also pointed out that The GCC States are now on the way to implement the GCC Railway Project, which will interconnect the GCC States from Muscat to Kuwait throughout a 2200 km network.

He also mentioned the cooperation and economic integration between the GCC States and its fruitful outcomes in enhancing GCC economy at world level. The GCC States occupy a considerable place among world countries. The GCC GPD accounted for US$ 1.5 trillion in 2017 thus occupying the 13th place in the world. The GCC also occupies a top position in the list of the exporting countries as the GCC exports accounted for some US$ 536 billion in 2017 while the GCC imports accounted for US$ 450 billion in 2017. The volume of GCC trade with the other countries of the world accounted for almost US$ 985 billion in 2017 and the volume of Intra-GCC trade accounted for US$ 133 billion in 2017.

The Secretary-General affirmed that despite all difficulties and challenging circumstances, the GCC States were able to maintain the stability of their economies. They rather enhanced their economic growth and maintained their advanced position among the countries of the world in the areas of human development, competitiveness, transparency as well as other areas. They had further given the private sector the opportunity to engage in laying down the foundations of development through providing it with all facilities, incentives support and encouragement and creating substantial employment opportunities for national labor. The GCC States also provided stabilized, secured, sustainable and encouraging environment for the GCC citizens, particularly the youth who are deemed priority No. 1 by the GCC leaders.

Dr. al-Zayani also pointed out  that the GCC achievements and GCC joint action through close integration and interdependence established several bodies and institutions (30) specialized in various areas, such as the Gulf Investment Organization, the Monetary Council, the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, GCC Patent Office, GCC Standardization Organization, Electric Interconnectivity Project, Federation of the GCC Chambers, Commercial Arbitration Center, Statistics Center and other specialized bodies. And the establishment of two bodies that reflect the aspirations of the GCC leaders towards achieving the GCC economic unity in an institutional manner; the Commission of Economic and Development Affairs and the Economic Judicial Commission.    

In order to ensure that implementation of those integrative projects be carried out within a regulated legislative and legal framework, the GCC issued 120 reference laws and regulations (44 unified/common laws and regulations), and is endeavoring to transform all those reference laws and regulations into unified ones.

at the end of his speech , The Secretary-General thanked  Allah for having bestowed the GCC states with such wise leaderships who have sound visions and insights that had helped them address several challenges, difficulties and crises in a careful and wise manner in order to preserve this blessed organization which all  leaders and peoples, care for its solidarity and process, because it constitutes the core pillar of regional stability, particularly under the current difficult regional circumstances.