Kuala Lumpur: Negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are expected to start on May 27, 2025. A GCC diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that discussions for the FTA will commence on the sidelines of the ASEAN-GCC Summit scheduled for next week.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the free trade deal between Malaysia and the GCC is still in the discussion phase. The GCC, known for its oil-rich member countries, includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.

As the ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia is set to host the 46th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on May 26 and 27. Coinciding with the summit, two significant high-level meetings-the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit-will also take place. These meetings aim to provide a crucial platform for enhancing regional and inter-regional cooperation.