A major diplomatic and business meeting took place in New Delhi involving key officials from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to India, Saleh bin Eid Al-Husseini, received Dr. Raja bin Manahi Al-Muraikhi during his official visit. Dr. Raja is the General Coordinator for Negotiations for the GCC. This meeting on February 5, 2026, marks the restart of important trade discussions between India and Gulf nations.
What was decided at the signing ceremony?
The main highlight of this visit was the formal signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement. This event was held at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi. The signing officially restarts trade negotiations that were paused in 2011.
India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was present to witness this significant moment. The documents were signed by Dr. Raja Al-Muraikhi and Shri Ajay Bhadoo, who is India’s Chief Negotiator. This new framework decides how future talks will happen regarding tax reductions on goods and better market access for services.
How will this benefit common people and business?
The Gulf region is a very big trade partner for India. Current data shows that trade between India and the six GCC countries stands at approximately USD 179 billion. These countries have also invested over USD 31 billion in India up to early 2026.
The government aims to boost food and energy security through this deal. It will also help industries like food processing, technology, and infrastructure. The six GCC countries involved in this agreement are Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.
