Jasem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stated Wednesday that GCC countries have made significant progress in the 2023 Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), underscoring the success of strategic solutions and initiatives implemented within their development plans and visions. Al-Budaiwi made these remarks during the opening of the 10th Ministerial meeting of the committee of GCC Ministers of Social Affairs and Development, held in the Qatari capital, Doha, with the participation of Kuwait. GCC countries seek to adopt the best programs that provide suitable job opportunities for their citizens equipping them with the necessary skills and qualifications to secure appropriate jobs, Al-Budaiwi affirmed. Al-Budaiwi noted that in the 2023 Global Competitiveness Index, GCC countries have made remarkable advancements, and similarly in the Youth Progress Index, where they rank among the top 30 out of 150 countries included in this index. He further explained that youth of working age in the GCC make up 24.6% of the total population, amounting to over 13 million young men and women, a "tremendous human resource" that must be properly harnessed to drive development and sustainability. This can be achieved by providing all the necessary educational and training programs to prepare them for their significant future responsibilities. The meeting's agenda includes several key topics, primarily the implementation of Supreme Council decisions regarding the completion of the Gulf Common Market pathways in the private sector labor market, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Strategy for Labor and Workforce from 2024 to 2030. In a similar address, Qatari Minister of Labor Ali Al-Marri highlighted the exceptional circumstances in the Arab region and the world, which are affecting labor markets, employment issues, and occupational safety and health. He also pointed to the direct impact of the digital revolution on labor markets, which presents challenges related to forced labor, human trafficking, and child labor. Al-Marri expressed his hope that the meeting would yield decisions and recommendations that contribute to fulfilling the aspirations of GCC citizens by securing decent employment opportunities, achieving a balance between creating more jobs, preserving workers' rights, and ensuring safer, more stable, and equitable labor markets. Source: Kuwait News Agency