HE al-Sulaiti with GCC transport and communication ministers at the meeting yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram
HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti has stressed that establishment of the GCC railway network will not only facilitate faster movement of people and cargo, but also accelerate the region’s economic development.
Addressing the concluding session of the 19th annual meeting of GCC transport ministers in Doha yesterday, al-Sulaiti expressed hope that work on the GCC rail network would start without any delay.
He said there was “excellent co-ordination” between the states and they were aware of the importance of the ambitious project and how it would benefit each of them.
Al-Sulaiti said every GCC member-state has initiated a number of significant moves and this has helped facilitate better co-ordination that will eventually contribute to the establishment of the network.
While recalling the developments that have taken place in the region’s transport sector over the past few years, including the establishment of better road infrastructure, HE the minister said the sector has received utmost attention from the GCC leaders all along and similar support could be expected in future for further progress.
Besides the development of highways and diversification of transport options, all future developments in the sector would contribute to the faster growth of regional economies in the coming years, he said.
Referring to steps taken by the member-states since the meeting of GCC transport ministers in 2003, HE al-Sulaiti said the leaderships of each country was well aware of the positive impact the railway network would have on their economies, once completed.
Al-Sulaiti said the studies carried out since then have found that the project would be beneficial to the people as well as to the economy of the region.
At the 2009 meeting, the leaders agreed to go ahead with their detailed studies, which included - among other issues - the engineering designs and possibility of establishing a GCC railway authority to supervise the entire project.
A committee consisting of the transport ministers of the member-states has been assigned to intensify the work as early as possible, incorporating the best international standards, practices and specifications, the minister noted.
He also reminded the gathering that the development of maritime transport was equally important as it was in line with the requirements of the region’s international trade.
The minister said all recommendations of the previous meeting held in Kuwait last year have been deliberated upon and priority areas have been shortlisted.
Speaking later, GCC secretary-general Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani said the member-states should do necessary follow-up on the Gulf railway project as it would have a considerable bearing on the economy of the entire region.
