New Free Trade Negotiations Between GCC, Malaysia, and UK Signal Growing Economic Ties

I’m excited to see these new trade agreements taking shape as it will be a real game changer for regional and global partnerships.

The GCC and Malaysia have officially launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is fantastic news for expanding economic ties between the Gulf states and Southeast Asia. What’s even more interesting is that a GCC–UK FTA is also being explored - both stories appeared in the same news report!

This is an incredible opportunity. If these agreements come to fruition, we could play a pivotal role as a bridge connecting these dynamic markets. Helping businesses navigate and benefit from these new trade routes is something I’m truly eager to support.

Thank you to the UAE, the GCC countries, Malaysia, and the UK for driving these forward. It’s great to see such collaborative momentum.

To give some context: The GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, and Malaysia have kicked off official negotiations after signing a joint statement between GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz. The announcement came during the recent GCC-ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.

The scope of these talks is broad covering trade in goods and services, investment, and wider economic cooperation. This aligns perfectly with global trends toward diversifying partnerships beyond traditional Western markets.

Trade between Malaysia and the GCC already hit $22.3 billion in 2024, covering everything from electronics and jewelry to petroleum products and palm oil. The potential for growth here is huge.

Moreover, the ASEAN-GCC connection offers exciting prospects in energy development, investment, and food security. As ASEAN transitions to greener energy and seeks energy security, collaboration with the Gulf -experts in energy- becomes increasingly valuable. On top of that, ASEAN’s strong agricultural base could complement the Gulf’s food security efforts.

I’m looking forward to seeing how these agreements evolve and how we can support businesses and investors in seizing the opportunities ahead.