The fourth version of the activities of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states days kicked off in Amsterdam here today with a symposium on "economic and commercial cooperation between the GCC member states and Holland". Delegates from the GCC countries, Holland government representatives, businessmen and diplomatic corps accredited to the Kingdom also attended the opening ceremony. During the symposium, the importance of building a partnership between Holland and the GCC countries was discussed. Addressing the symposium, Holland's Minister of Economics Maria Van Der Hoeven said the positive signals sent by the GCC countries in the field of innovating their infrastructure, enhancing their economic abilities and diversifying their national income offer Holland and European Union an opportunity to diversify their activities in the Gulf region and Middle East. She expressed support of her country for the European Union plans to sign an agreement on free exchange with GCC. She invited GCC private sector to invest in Holland, noting that her country is planning to enact new laws by the beginning of next year attracting investors from the GCC region for investment in Holland. On his part, Hamad Al-Atiyyah, Secretary General of GCC, said in a key address that the GCC countries are strenuously seeking to achieve more integration with the world economy. He estimated the financial surpluses of the GCC countries outside at more than $500 billion.
