Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro has underscored the resilience of Gulf nations in the face of security challenges, calling for a unified push to transform regional trials into a springboard for long-term economic integration.
Addressing the inaugural Made in GCC Forum and Exhibition, Mr Fakhro stressed that despite recent regional pressures and Iranian aggression, GCC member states have consistently demonstrated a shared resolve and steadfast cooperation.
“The true test of nations lies not only in their ability to overcome crises, but also in their capacity to transform challenges into opportunities and difficult circumstances into a catalyst for development,” he added.
Highlighting the region’s robust economic baseline, the minister noted that the GCC collectively commands a $2.4 trillion economy, with intra-GCC trade in goods reaching $146 billion.
However, he pointed out a major strategic opportunity in the fact that GCC countries continue to import goods worth over $600bn annually.
“How many of the simple products, components, and materials we import today could we manufacture here in the Gulf?” Mr Fakhro asked delegates.
“We have the energy, the capital, advanced infrastructure, logistics, and most importantly, ambitious Gulf youth driven by a passion for achievement.”
The minister called for shifting the focus from isolated national industries to integrated Gulf value chains, ensuring that ideas evolve smoothly into projects, factories, and world-class products.
He emphasised that the “Made in the Gulf” banner must transcend being a mere label to become a powerful economic identity synonymous with quality, reliability, and innovation.
“We manufacture in the Gulf, and from the Gulf, we manufacture for the world, hand in hand,” Mr Fakhro concluded, urging stakeholders to leverage the forum as a definitive platform for joint Gulf action and sustainable industrial resilience.
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