GCC oil undersecretaries discuss array of issues to boost cooperation 

(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Undersecretaries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states' ministries of oil kicked off their 12th meeting in Riyadh to discuss array of issues to boost oil and power cooperation.

Kuwait's Oil Ministry's Undersecretary Saad Al-Wasmi told KUNA, on Monday, that the Kuwaiti delegation will discuss with the assembly preparations of hosting the first GCC petroleum media in the first quarter of 2013 in the state of Kuwait.

The meeting also will tackle Oman's suggestion of setting up a joint GCC market for gas and power and the implementation of some joint GCC petroleum strategies. In addition, it will shed light on commissioning the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) to carry out a study on the feasibility of approximating prices of petroleum products amongst the gulf countries and the setting up a techincal network for clean energy resources between the GCC countries and the European Union.

A report on climate change issues and the Kyoto Protocol will be discussed at the meeting, Al-Wasmi noted. The report comes as a preparation to a conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will be held in Doha, Qatar, in November.

The meeting will also highlight issues of boosting a GCC cooperation with World Trade Organization (WTO) and free trade agreements with foreign markets.

Recommendations of this meeting will be referred to the 31the oil ministerial meeting which will be held next Tuesday in Riyadh.