BRUSSELS: Businesses and government leaders from the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will convene at the 6th EU-GCC Business Forum, taking place in Brussels on November 24. The event will discuss "People, Place, Prosperity: Rebuilding After the Pandemic" in the 6th of a series of European Union (EU) & Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Business Forums, being held in Europe and the Gulf, according to a press release by EU-GCC Dialogue on Economic Diversification. The Forum will address current climate change, energy security, environmental, and digital transition challenges in EU and GCC countries.

Overarching themes will be addressed in the Business Forum's keynote opening session by Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission, and will be further explored in detail in subsequent panel discussions. "The Sixth EU-GCC Business Forum is an expression of the strength of ongoing bilateral relations and increasing ties between the EU and GCC," said Dombrovskis. "The EU GCC Business Forum will build on the traditional strong links that already exist between individual GCC and EU Member States.

We look forward to strengthening this cooperation with a clear focus on delivering results," he added. The EU-GCC Dialogue on Economic Diversification is a project funded by the EU under the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. The project contributes to stronger EU-GCC relations by supporting the GCC countries in the ongoing process of economic diversification away from hydrocarbon dependent sectors. The six-member GCC groups are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Pakistan, Saudi partnership

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have expressed the determination to further strengthen their multidimensional partnership during a meeting between Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. According to the state owned Radio Pakistan, the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Climate Implementation Summit in Egypt on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince expressed satisfaction over the growing high level contacts. The premier reiterated that Pakistan attaches great importance to its fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia which are deeply rooted in common faith, culture, values and an eternal tradition of mutual support. He also appreciated the hospitality and cooperation of Saudi Arabia for the two million Pakistanis working in the Kingdom who, he said, are contributing to the development, prosperity and economic progress of the two brotherly countries.

PM Shehbaz particularly emphasized the importance of increasing trade, investment, development and people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He appreciated the Crown Prince's "Middle East Green Initiative" and assured the Saudi leadership of Pakistan's full support. Moreover, PM Shehbaz has expressed Pakistan's keenness to work closely with the Middle Eastern countries to secure the planet against climate change impacts in his address in Saudi Green Initiative Summit.

He said that it is a big step in the right direction for human survival, regional rejuvenation and seed a much needed hope for a world looking for a greener and more bio diverse future. Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is fully committed to the broader objective of the initiative and looks forward to working in close collaboration with the Middle East states for restoration of forests in dry land areas, management of protected areas, carbon stock assessment and establishment of forest monitoring systems.

He said nature based solutions are also at the heart of his country's ambitious climate action agenda. The Prime Minister pointed out that the objectives of the Middle East Green Initiative are aligned with those of Pakistan's forest policy and Green Pakistan Program which is focused on protecting, enhancing and managing our forests, wildlife and ecosystem by 2030. - KUNA