Riyadh, 17 August 2022 (TDI): The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chaired the first meeting of the five-year plan team on 16 August 2022. The meeting assessed the proposed five-year plan (2023-2027) and also emphasized its significance for joint Gulf media work.

This was a virtual meeting that took place on a video call in the presence of the representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The five-year plan (2023-2927) will organize the strategy of media and joint television cooperation in the GCC

The GCC consists of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

The idea of a five-year plan was first discussed at the 33rd meeting of the Committee of Foreign Media Officials in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

This meeting included Afra Al Hamli, Deputy Director of the Strategic Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Dubai.  Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information of Saudi Arabia, Khaled Al-Ghamdi hosted the virtual meeting.

Other officials who also attended this meeting include Adel Al-Zayani, Assistant Secretary-General of the GCC. They discussed ways to ensure joint coordination so as to fulfill the future vision for the work of the Gulf media.

They also highlighted the significance of looking for a future vision for the work of the Gulf media abroad. The Council later approved the five-year plan (2023-2027) in June 2022.

The GCC Countries

The GCC is a political, economic, social, and regional organization established on 4 February 1981. The Arab states of the Gulf established this organization to address problems affecting them.

The GCC facilitates coordination, integration, and interconnection within member countries in all aspects to ensure unity. The organization also seeks to deepen and enhance relations, links, and areas of cooperation. They also have regulations in many fields including Economic and financial affairs, commerce, customs, communications, and many more.

The GCC also activates scientific and technological progress in mining, agriculture, water, and animal resources to enable scientific research, joint ventures, and cooperation by the private sector.