GCC Urged to Seize Global Turmoil as Growth Catalyst
Basim Mohamed AlSaie, BCCI Executive Committee & Board Member and a leading voice in Bahrain's business community, has called on GCC nations to turn current global trade instability into a launchpad for deeper regional integration and global outreach, predicting up to 40% growth for the region over the next five to seven years.
Speaking on the sidelines of a landmark Bab Al-Bahrain Forum 2025 in Manama, where for the first time, leaders of the International Labour Organization (ILO), World Trade Organization (WTO), and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) shared a common platform - Al Saei framed the gathering as a pivotal moment amid global uncertainty.
'We're witnessing disruption sparked by tariff wars and geopolitical tension, but it's not the time to pause,' he said. 'The GCC should use this adversity to consolidate interna
lly, remove trade barriers, and build new bridges with other blocs around the world. That alone could fuel 30 to 40 percent growth for our region.' Mr. AlSaie described the presence of the three global institutions at one panel as a historic and strategic convergence, saying it allowed stakeholders in the private sector to hear directly from those shaping international trade norms during uncertain times.
Mr. Al Saie also spoke on the Chamber's internal reforms, especially its long-awaited digital transformation, which he said had now moved from planning to implementation.
'Since 2018, we've been working on transforming the Chamber into a data-driven institution,' he said. 'That meant investing in systems, infrastructure, and people - and although it took longer than we wanted, results are now starting to show.'
Key services have already gone fully digital, removing the need for members to physically visit the Chamber. But Al Saie said this was just the beginning of a wider vision: 'We want to be the leading chamber in the region, and that means going beyond digitisation into becoming a centre of business intelligence.'
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