RIYADH: The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Albudaiwi met Dr. Raja Al Marzouqi, the newly appointed general coordinator for negotiations and head of the negotiating team of the GCC, on Wednesday. At the meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh, Albudaiwi congratulated Al Marzouqi on his new role, to which he was appointed on March 22 by the GCC’s Ministerial Council. The secretary-general wished Al Marzouqi good fortune in his endeavors to advance Gulf trade negotiations in a manner that satisfies the aspirations of the leaders of the GCC countries and their people. Al Marzouqi thanked the secretary-general and the leaders and ministers of the GCC countries for their confidence in appointing him to his role. The parties also discussed the potential of the GCC countries to play a major role as an economic driver through creating strategic partnerships and enabling free trade negotiations. They also touched upon partnerships with economic and international groups, along with regional blocs, as well as ways of strengthening means to accelerate and contribute to advancing growth and Gulf economic integration. Both said that this could be accomplished through plans and developmental programs. Al Marzouqi was a chief economic adviser at the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning prior to his new role. He was also a faculty member at the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and a collaborating expert with the International Monetary Fund. He previously held leadership and administrative positions in the government and private sectors, and international and regional organizations, including serving as the CEO of the Gulf Monetary Council. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from King Saud University in Riyadh and went on to complete his master’s in applied mathematical economics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He also holds a Ph.D. in economics from Oklahoma State University-Stillwater.