The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, received on Tuesday, 5 February 2019, at the GCC headquarters, their Excellencies Directors of the GCC National statistical centers, members of the GCC Standing Committee for Statistical Work; led by, Mr. Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Barwani, Executive Chairman of the National Center for Statistics and Information in the Sultanate of Oman, and Mr. Saber Al Harbi, Director General of the GCCSTAT.

Dr. al-Zayani, welcomed the attendance, appreciating the great attention the Statistical Work receives from their Majesties and Highnesses, leaders of the GCC States.  They believe in its vital role supporting the sustainable development process and achieve further development, progress and prosperity.

The Secretary-General also praised the efforts exerted by the GCC national statistical centers to develop the statistical work and improve its efficiency in providing data, information and statistical services that are fundamental to implement the GCC Supreme Council decisions, strategies and agreements, and the vital role they play in presenting the GCC as an Economic and developmental bloc, and confirm the GCC states determination to increase their efforts to make more outstanding achievements in various developmental fields.

The Standing Committee expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Secretary General for holding this constructive meeting to discuss means to enhance cooperation between the GCC statistical centers, stressing the important role played by the GCCSTAT in coordinating the efforts, Strengthening cooperation, and conducting specialized statistical studies that serves the GCC sustainable development process.

During the meeting they discussed means to further enhance the GCC joint Statistical Work, and strengthen the cooperation, coordination and integration between the GCC statistical Centers in order to provide accurate statistical information, indicators, and data that are fundamental to the GCC sustainable development process.

The meeting was attended by, Mr. Abdulmalik Al Sheikh, Head of the GCC Economic Affairs sector, Mr. Khalid Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, Director-General of GCC Economic and Development Affairs Authority, and Mr. Abdulaziz Al Nasser, GCC Director General of Information and Strategic Planning.