External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired a meeting with representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting focused on reviewing progress under the India-GCC Joint Action Plan 2024-28 and discussing ways to further strengthen cooperation between India and the Gulf countries.
Trade and economic cooperation were among the key areas discussed during the meeting. India and the GCC had formally moved towards negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) earlier this year, with the Terms of Reference for the negotiations signed in February 2026. The framework is intended to guide discussions on trade in goods and services, investment and other areas of economic cooperation.
Jaishankar highlighted the importance of advancing the India-GCC economic partnership. The two sides have strong commercial links, with the Gulf region playing an important role in India’s energy supplies, trade, investment and employment opportunities.
The discussions also covered cooperation in areas such as energy, food security, healthcare, technology and investment. Cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties were also highlighted as important parts of the broader relationship.
The welfare of the large Indian community living and working in Gulf countries was another important subject. Jaishankar expressed appreciation to GCC countries for their support and cooperation in ensuring the well-being of Indian citizens in the region.
Maritime security also received attention during the meeting. India and the GCC reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation and the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers. The issue has gained additional significance because of security concerns affecting important shipping routes in the Gulf and wider West Asian region.
For India, secure sea routes are particularly important because the Gulf region is closely connected to the country’s energy supplies and international trade. India has consistently highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation and safe movement through major maritime routes.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review the implementation of the India-GCC Joint Action Plan for 2024-28. The framework covers cooperation across multiple sectors and is intended to provide a structured approach to expanding relations between India and the six GCC member states.
India’s engagement with the GCC has grown significantly in recent years, with cooperation extending beyond traditional areas such as energy and trade to technology, healthcare, investment, food security and cultural exchanges.
The latest meeting in New York comes as India and the Gulf countries continue to work on expanding economic ties while responding to changing regional and global conditions. The proposed FTA and continued cooperation on maritime security are expected to remain important elements of the relationship in the coming period.