Dubai: India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have reviewed ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) and discussed ways to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation during a high-level meeting in Riyadh.
Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Vipul held talks with GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi on Sunday at the GCC Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh. The two sides discussed India-GCC relations, regional and international developments, and preparations for the GCC-India ministerial meeting scheduled for September.
The meeting also covered the latest developments in the India-GCC FTA negotiations, which were formally launched in February 2026. The GCC and India signed a joint statement on February 24 to begin negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement aimed at strengthening economic and trade ties.
The proposed FTA is expected to create greater opportunities for trade and investment between India and the six GCC member states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The GCC Secretariat said the two sides also discussed ways to enhance high-level engagement and reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination and consultations on issues of common interest, particularly those contributing to regional security and stability.
Ambassador Shri Vipul met H.E. Mr. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), today. Both discussed India-GCC cooperation, including FTA negotiations and strengthening high-level engagements. They also exchanged views on regional and global… pic.twitter.com/iYFNDUSWjn
— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) August 23, 2026
The GCC is India’s largest trading partner bloc. Bilateral trade reached $178.56 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, accounting for 15.42 per cent of India’s global trade. India’s exports to the GCC stood at $56.87 billion, while imports were valued at $121.68 billion.
Major Indian exports to the GCC include engineering goods, rice, textiles, machinery, gems and jewellery. Imports include crude oil, LNG, petrochemicals and gold.
The region is also an important source of investment and remittances for India and is home to a large Indian community.
The current FTA process follows earlier attempts to negotiate a trade agreement. India and the GCC had held discussions in 2006 and 2008 before negotiations were put on hold.
The GCC and India are now seeking to deepen economic ties through the proposed agreement, with the next GCC-India ministerial meeting scheduled for September.
India has already implemented a trade pact with the UAE and signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Oman.
