GCC-Australian Free Trade Talks begin in Muscat

Muscat, May 31, SPA -- The Fourth round of negotiations pertaining to
free trade between the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and
Australia began here today.


The participants of the 3-day meeting are scheduled to review a
number of topics including trading in commodities, services,
investments, governmental purchases, intellectual property, and other
related topics.

Dr Abdel-Malik Al-Hanaei, the Under Secretary of the Omani Ministry
of National Economy for economic affairs, who leads the gulf side at
the talks, said the GCC member states are linked with good trade
relations with Australia.

The GCC is made up of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

--SPA