Minister of Transport H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani today headed the Qatari delegation to the 30th Meeting of the Ministers of Transport of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), in Manama.

The ministers discussed several agenda items and initiatives focused on fostering GCC cooperation and integration in the transportation industry.

Key discussions revolved around enhancing GCC logistical integration, the General Agreement to Connect Countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Through Railway Project, and the outcomes and results of the operational plan study of the Project.

The meeting also discussed the GCC uniform system for universal land transportation and its executive regulations, the conclusion of an agreement on facilitating the movement of leisure maritime vessels among GCC States, and the potential for a collective accession by GCC States to the ADR.

Additionally, the meeting discussed the challenges and factors behind rising ground and maritime shipping costs. Some proposed solutions to address them were discussed, as well as examining the proactive procedures and steps in case restrictions were imposed on the passage of ships through the two Straits of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab.

The meeting also discussed the progress of work on the preparing of a land transportation strategy and a marine environmental risk register.

Furthermore, the meeting touched upon the initiative on the green shipping corridors between GCC ports, the rules and controls over the entry of conventional commercial ships to the waters and ports of the GCC countries, the requirements for granting driving licenses to the marine vessels that aren’t subject to the international maritime conventions.