
Euro-Gulf Information Centre
GCC IN REVIEW
BY ANTONINO OCCHIUTO
Kingdom of Bahrain
Sunday, 25 February—Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) is set to own the world’s largest single aluminium smelter complex, following a $ 3 million (USD) investment to expand the smelter and increase its production capacity by 540,000 metric tonnes. This will take the smelter to a total capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per year while allowing Bahrain to reduce its financial commitment to the company.
Sunday, 25 February—Bahrain’s Undersecretary for International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, met, in Brussels, with the Acting Director of the Department of Middle East and North Africa Affairs of the European External Action Service, Ambassador Colin Scicluna. The Undersecretary stressed the importance of cooperation between the Kingdom and the European Union in the field of human rights, stressing the Kingdom of Bahrain's firm commitment to the protection of human rights. This was part of a comprehensive trip, by the Undersecretary, aimed at enhancing Bahrain-EU relations.
Monday, 26 February—The Chairman of the Bahrain-based investment firm GFH Financial Hopes, Jassim Alseddiqi, announced a plan to develop new businesses in Saudi Arabia. This comes at a time of increasing cooperation between Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in all sectors, including economic development.
State of Kuwait
Wednesday, 28 February—Kuwait’s Red Crescent Society (KRCS) delivered food parcels to besieged Syrians in Eastern Ghouta. KRCS’s Secretary General, Maha Al-Barjas, announced that the relief operations are set to expand and include medical aid for civilians.
Thursday, 1 March—The Ambassador of the Philippines to Kuwait, Renato Pedro, declared that delegation from the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry will travel to Manila in the second half of March to seal the deal with the Philippines Labour Ministry. This is the first major positive development to resolve the diplomatic spat which began following Philippine’s President, Rodrigo Duterte, announced a departure ban for Filipinos planning to work in Kuwait.
Sultanate of Oman
Monday, 26 February—Oman’s Economic Committee of the