Lebanon-GCC ties deep-rooted: Kuwaiti envoy
Office to promote economic relations
BEIRUT, Oct 29, (KUNA): Kuwait Ambassador to Lebanon Abdulaal Al-Qena’ei and other Beirut-based GCC diplomats and economists agreed Wednesday that the relationship between Lebanon and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states stood the test of time.
“The two sides share the desire to further enhance the relations in all domains particularly the economic one,” he said, noting that the private sector serves as leverage in this domain.
Al-Qena’ie made the comments at a ceremony to inaugurate the Lebanese-GCC economic relations promotion office here.
“Driven by amity and shared desire, the joint investments and commercial exchanges between the two sides kept growing and will continue to do so despite any challenges,” the Kuwaiti diplomat affirmed.
He commended the launching of the Lebanese-GCC economic relations promotion office as a good initiative for backing the activities of the private sector in Lebanon and taking the economic relations to a new height.
Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Al-Asiri said the GCC states spared no effort in promoting the relations with Lebanon and backing up the socio-economic development in Lebanon.
“To revive the Lebanese economy requires restoring political and social stability and putting an end to the current limbo,” he said, apparently referring to the inability of the Lebanese parliament to elect a replacement to the out-going head of state.
On his part, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon Mohammad Shukair said the launching of the office is a new step towards revitalizing the economic relations and interaction between private sector companies from both sides.
He expressed gratitude for the support and preferential treatment offered by the GCC peoples and governments to his country, as well as the good treatment of the Lebanese expatriate workers.
“But for the remittances from the Lebanese expatriates in the GCC countries since 2011, social and economic crises in the country might have become ever worse and more complicated,” Shukair pointed out.
“The GCC states proved to be all-weather friends of Lebanon,” he said, noting that the GCC markets are the main destinations of Lebanon’s exports and the GCC investments are the biggest in Lebanon.
On a similar note, Chairman of the Lebanese Economic Organization Adnan Kassar said the GCC states stood by the Lebanon people in all emergencies and the relations between the two sides are deep-rooted.
The ceremony gathered Ambassador of the UAE Hamad Al-Shamsi, acting Charge d’Affaires of Qatar Hamad bin Hamad Al Thani and Charge d’Affaires of Oman Khaled Hardan.