The Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) has released issue number 111 of “The Industrial Cooperation in the Arabian Gulf” Magazine featuring a memo from GOIC Secretary General Mr. Abdulaziz Bin Hamad Al-Ageel entitled “In accordance with the directives of GCC leaders… GOIC seeks to achieve Gulf industrial integration”. In this memo, Mr. Al-Ageel says GOIC endeavours to support GCC countries in promoting the industrial sector and achieving economic development. The leaders of GCC states had called upon concerned parties to work on laying the foundations of economic integration between GCC countries, which is in line with one of GOIC’s key objectives.”

 

Al-Ageel stated: “GOIC has always endeavoured to support these efforts and prepare GCC countries to cope with global economic and industrial changes and benefit from these changes to accomplish the desired industrial quantum leap. In fact, GOIC plays a vital role in determining and introducing new industries and shaping general industrial policies in the Gulf by offering recommendations, particularly regarding the unified GCC industrial strategy. In addition, GOIC has recently played a key role in supporting member states’ economies in terms of economic integration between public and private sectors, particularly industrial sectors.”

 

The magazine features the most important economic decisions mentioned in the closing remarks of the GCC Supreme Council meeting held in Doha on the 9th of December 2014. The Supreme Council had reiterated “the importance of moving forward towards integration between GCC states in different economic areas.” The Council had also directed member states to deploy additional efforts to execute its decisions regarding joint work in the fields mentioned in the economic agreement. The Supreme Council commended member states for their efforts in the area of comprehensive development at all levels and for the high average growth that GCC economies are witnessing.”

 

The magazine’s industrial report highlights basic metal products industry in GCC countries. The report reveals that there were 307 factories operating in this area in 2013 with investments up to 51.6 billion USD and a workforce of 68000 workers.

 

It includes a dossier about the recommendations of Al-Qassim industrial investment forum held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Emir of the region of Al-Qassim. GOIC had introduced investments opportunities aiming at boosting economic development and creating new job opportunities.

Furthermore, Mr. Mamdouh Habra, economic expert at GOIC, wrote a report about vegetable and animal oils and fats industry. It stressed the importance of this industry to food security of GCC countries.

 

Editor-in-Chief Mrs. Abir Adel Jaber’s article is entitled “GOIC continues to support the industrial sector”. It highlights the Organization’s 2015 schedule which will be crowned with the 15th Gulf Industrialists’ Conference held in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Kuwait. This conference will tackle foreign direct investments (FDIs) and their impact on Gulf industries. Mrs. Jaber says: “GOIC’s efforts focus on preparing for the conference in collaboration and coordination with organizing bodies in Kuwait. The ultimate objective is to put together a number of recommendations to boost foreign investments in the Gulf industrial sector.”

Moreover, Dr. Nozad al-Hiti wrote an analytical article assessing the infrastructure of the financing sector in GCC countries based on business performance index (BPI). Journalist Jamal Banoun’s article is entitled: “Where did the Gulf national workforce go?”, while Engineer Ali Bahzad wrote about “solar energy in GCC countries, a hidden wealth in the high skies.” Mr. Hatem Rashid, economic specialist at GOIC, also wrote an analytical article about GDPs in GCC countries. In addition, the issue features a series of economic and industrial articles.

 

This issue also features a report about workshops and specialised training held by GOIC during 2015 under the umbrella of the Training and Capacity Development Program (TCD). It also lists upcoming workshops aiming at building capacities of industrial sector staff in GCC countries and Yemen. An industrial investment opportunity entitled “The manufacture aluminium composite panel (ACP)” is detailed, in addition to the Magazine’s standard sections such as “GOIC News”, “Upcoming Industrial Events”, “Industrial Sector News” and other topics.

The Industrial Cooperation in the Arabian Gulf Magazine is a quarterly periodical issued by the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC). It features articles about GCC industrial and economic trends and new technologies. The magazine also tackles different economic topics including brief and in-depth analyses concerning the current economic and industrial situation. Furthermore, it includes reports about the industrial sector in the Gulf and challenges to new industries in particular. In addition to that, it features summaries about relevant industrial, economic and financial topics and articles regarding the current industrial environment, industrial statistics with forecasts, industrial data and information technologies and industrial management. A full version of the magazine is available on www.goic.org.qa.