Abstract — This segment of the StratEGIC monthly walks readers through three of the main issues/trends that have unfolded in the Gulf region over the past month. First, some of the key steps that are being undertaken in support of a more robust GCC-India relationship. Focus is on the 09 September GCC-India Strategic Dialogue and their growing trade relationship. Second, a focused look at the Saudi Logistics Summit 2024 helps paint a more vivid picture about Vision 2030 and the emergence of the GCC as a key node in global trade. Finally, this work looks as the relationship between Global Statistics and Development with a focus on Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the UN World Data Forum in 2026.

Keywords — GCC, India, trade, cooperation, Summit, logistics, data, Vision 2030, United Nations

GCC Countries and India Strengthen their Cooperation

In September 2024, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries took significant strides in strengthening their strategic alliances, particularly with India, during the first ministerial meeting of the GCC-India Strategic Dialogue held on 9 September. This high-level meeting, chaired by Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, with India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar present, marked a milestone in bilateral relations and highlighted a broad spectrum of cooperative areas, such as trade, energy, security, and technological innovation.

Economic relations between the GCC and India have grown rapidly, with bilateral trade reaching $174 billion in 2022. GCC exports to India, primarily hydrocarbons, stood at $91 billion, while imports, including Indian goods and services, reached $83 billion. The trade ties are not limited to traditional sectors, they also extend to strategic areas like renewable energy and innovation. Joint investments between the two regions are estimated at $6 billion, with both sides showing increasing interest in collaboration in technology and sustainable energy projects. The meeting underscored the potential for further integration in key sectors like clean energy, reflecting mutual goals for energy diversification and environmental sustainability.

In addition to economic collaboration, the dialogue emphasised the importance of political and security cooperation. Both sides reiterated the need for continuous coordination to address regional and global security challenges, including terrorism, extremism, and geopolitical instability. This cooperation involves not only reactive measures to current crises but also proactive efforts through information exchange and joint security initiatives to prevent conflicts. The significance of uniting stances in international forums was highlighted as a way to enhance their collective influence on global peace and stability efforts.

This meeting follows a broader trend of the GCC countries expanding their strategic dialogues with other global powers.

Saudi Logistics Summit 2024: Saudi Arabia’s Main Initiatives to Transform its Logistics Sector

The Saudi Logistics Summit, held from 2-4 September 2024 in Riyadh, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s strategic initiatives to transform its logistics sector in line with Vision 2030. The event brought together leaders and experts from across the logistics, warehousing, and supply chain industries to explore innovations, investment opportunities, and partnerships that can accelerate the Kingdom’s rise as a global logistics hub.

One of the summit’s key goals was to discuss how Saudi Arabia could improve its Logistics Performance Index ranking, aiming to climb from 49th to 25th place globally. This improvement would position the Riyadh as a crucial player in international trade and enhance its competitiveness. Discussions centred around themes such as digital transformation, infrastructure expansion, and local manufacturing under the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program.

The summit also featured dialogues on geopolitical risks, the expansion of trade zones and sea ports, and sustainability efforts. A notable emphasis was placed on green logistics solutions, aiming to align the logistics industry with the country’s sustainability targets, particularly its commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 278 million tonnes per year by 2030. The Summit demonstrated how Saudi Arabia’s strategic geographic location could be leveraged for increased trade connectivity between Europe, Asia, and Africa, reinforcing its role as a key global logistics hub.

In tandem with infrastructure development, the summit addressed workforce needs, with discussions on training programs to up-skill the local labor force, ensuring that Saudi nationals are equipped to participate in and lead the country’s logistics transformation. This aligns with the broader Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification and reducing the Kingdom’s dependence on oil revenue.

The Saudi Logistics Summit reflects the ongoing commitment to investing in modernising its logistics infrastructure and fostering global partnerships, positioning Saudi Arabia as a pivotal player in global supply chains.

Global Statistics and Sustainable Development

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), has secured the nomination to host the United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF) in 2026. This landmark event, which will be held in Riyadh, underscores the growing importance in the field of global statistics and its commitment to contribute to international efforts for sustainable development. The United Nations World Data Forum is a leading platform that brings together scientists, policymakers, statisticians and key stakeholders from around the world to address the challenges and opportunities of the data ecosystem. To date, the forum is a key venue for collaboration, innovation, and dialogue on how to harness data to make effective decisions, monitor progress toward global goals, and achieve sustainable development.

The forum plays a key role in the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. These goals aim to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change and environmental sustainability. Reliable and complete statistical data are essential to measure progress on these goals and to ensure accountability and transparency.

The success of Saudi Arabia’s bid was influenced by the GASTAT President, Dr Fahad Aldossari, who presented Saudi Arabia’s case to the High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (HLG-PCCB). Aldossari highlighted Saudi Arabia’s demonstrated expertise in hosting large-scale international events and the country’s commitment to providing world-class infrastructure and logistical support. Indeed, winning the bid to host the UN World Data Forum is not only a diplomatic victory for Saudi Arabia, which is also in line with UNWDF’s mission to promote international cooperation in statistics, foster capacity building and encourage knowledge exchange among member states.

As the world prepares for the 2026 UNWDF, Riyadh will become a hub for discussions on how to modernise global statistical systems, improve collaboration, and harness data for lasting growth. The forum will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of statistics and ensuring that data continues to drive positive change in all areas of human development.

(26/09/2024)