Exploring and analyzing Malaysia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economic relations

Abstract

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is the largest economic group in the Middle East region and ranks at number 17th in the global economy. The establishment of GCC Custom Union in 2003 has attracted a number of economic groups such as European Union (EU) as well as individual countries to deal with the GCC as an economic group. As a custom union, it requires to the interested parties to deal with GCC as a bunch. A number of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with GCC has been signed and still under negotiating. Malaysia, apart from religious affinity, has significant economic relation with the group. The economic tie between Malaysia and GCC has been remarkable particularly on trade, oil sources as well as investment opportunities for Malaysia. At the same time, recent development shows that, the GCC nations also investing and participating in Malaysian economy and this contributing considerably its economic growth. Given this background, the objectives of this paper are first to analyse GCC economic condition from Malaysian perspective and secondly to highlight the economic co-operation at the intra-regional level between GCC and Malaysia. In doing so, this paper will particularly look into the trends, level and few other aspects of its trade and economic relation with the GCC members, and the benefit that gained by Malaysian investors as well as expatriates investing and working in this region. The findings of this paper will be analyzing toward the future relation between the GCC and Malaysia.