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AGRICULTURE: The directive to harmonize agricultural policy was officially promulgated in 1985 and measures to harmonize many aspects of agriculture (including water conservation, the use of fertilizers and insecticides and various veterinary matters) have since been taken.
TRADE: A process of complete tariff unification was set in motion in 1994. In June 1998, by which time Member States had agreed on the classification of most goods for external tariff purposes, a technical committee was set up to explore the possibility of a customs union. At the 20th Session of the GCC Supreme Council in November 1999, it was agreed that customs union should be achieved by 2005. In December 2000, the 21st Summit Meeting aimed to bring that date forward to 2002.
In 1998 a GCC Patent Office was established to protect intellectual property rights in the area.
Measures, including foreign investment guidelines published in 1997, have been taken at various times to encourage foreign investment.
Trade amongst the GCC Member States has flourished. In 1999, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia imported more than SR 4 billion worth of goods from other GCC Member States, an increase of 8% on the preceding year.
EASE OF MOVEMENT WITHIN THE GCC: In 1997, a simplified passport system was approved by the Ministers of the Interior of the GGC Member States.
COORDINATION OF INFORMATION POLICY: From the mid-1990s, Ministers of Information from the GCC Member States met regularly to co-ordinate their work. At their meeting in the United Arab Emirates in 1999, the GCC Information Ministers affirmed the importance of strengthening the external information flow in the GCC States. They expressed their satisfaction with the success already achieved in bringing about the existing cooperation between the GCC information bodies and reaffirmed their commitment to the activation of the joint information projects between Member States in print, audio and video spheres.