State of Qatar Participates in GCC Ministerial Meetings and Official Opening of “Made in GCC 2026” Forum and Exhibition
The State of Qatar participated in the 71st meeting of the Commercial Cooperation Committee, the 57th meeting of the Industrial Cooperation Committee, and the 12th meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Standardization Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, in the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain, with the participation of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Commerce and Industry of the GCC Member States and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The State of Qatar’s delegation to the meetings was headed by H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs.
During the meetings, Their Excellencies the Ministers discussed a number of issues and matters of common interest, in addition to the recommendations and topics referred by the preparatory meetings of the Undersecretaries of the GCC Ministries of Commerce and Industry, and adopted the appropriate decisions in this regard.
In a related context, H.E. the Minister of Commerce and Industry participated in the 15th consultative meeting between Their Excellencies the GCC Ministers of Commerce and Industry and the heads of GCC federations and chambers of commerce. The meeting discussed the topics and recommendations submitted by the heads of the GCC chambers and federations, and adopted the appropriate decisions in this regard.
H.E. the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs also participated in the sixth consultative meeting between Their Excellencies the GCC Ministers of Commerce and Industry and Gulf entrepreneurs. The meeting addressed the exchange of expertise, the challenges facing the entrepreneurship sector across the GCC, initiatives supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as ways to support innovation and strengthen the Gulf entrepreneurship ecosystem.
His Excellency also attended a ceremony honouring Gulf inventors, held as part of efforts to support creators and innovators and encourage innovation and ideas that contribute to enhancing economic performance and improving the efficiency and sustainability of productivity across the GCC States.
In addition, H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, participated in the official opening of the “Made in GCC 2026” Forum and Exhibition, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs.
The Forum and Exhibition was officially opened by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, on behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The event is being held from 6 to 8 October 2026 at Exhibition World Bahrain.
H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, also participated in a panel discussion held on the opening day as part of the Forum accompanying the “Made in GCC 2026” Exhibition, titled “From Industry to Global Markets: Investment, Export and Growth.”
The session featured H.E. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain; H.H. Prince Sultan bin Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF); and Ms. Gemma Stevenson, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan and His Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
The session highlighted the key enablers of industrial growth and expansion into global markets, from financing, investment, and the development of production capabilities to strengthening exports and market access. It also discussed the role of industrial policies, trade agreements, and international partnerships in enhancing the competitiveness of industries, integrating them into global value chains, and opening new avenues for growth and expansion.
The State of Qatar is participating in the “Made in GCC 2026” Exhibition through a pavilion comprising the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, alongside a number of entities supporting the industrial sector, including Qatar Development Bank and Qatar Economic Zones Company (Manateq), as well as more than 20 national factories. This participation reflects the diversity of Qatar’s industrial sector and contributes to showcasing Qatari products and industries.