Australia seeks free trade deal with GCC
MENAFN - Arab News, Saudi Arabia
Australia seeks free trade deal with GCC
4 November 2008
Australian Minister for Trade Simon Crean, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, has reaffirmed the need to initiate talks for a free trade agreement between the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Australia. Claiming that trade was the "multiplier of global economic activity," Crean said Australia must use the G-20 meeting later this month to push the cause of free trade as a way of warding off the worst effects of the financial crisis.
"Crean’s visit is mainly intended to give a push to the proposed free trade agreement," said Roy Clougstoun, a spokesman of the Australian Embassy, here yesterday.
This is the first formal visit to Saudi Arabia by a minister in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government. Clougstoun said that Crean held wide-ranging talks with senior Saudi officials including Riyadh Governor Prince Salman, Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Alireza and SAGIA Gov. Amr Al-Dabbagh
"The purpose of Crean’s visit was to meet with key Saudi ministers to advance Australia’s trade, economic and investment interests with Saudi Arabia," said the spokesman, while expressing satisfaction that the purpose of the visit was served.
Asked whether the issue of livestock trade with Saudi Arabia was discussed during Crean’s talks with Saudi officials, the spokesman said that "it did not figure in official talks."
