Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Research Fellow - GRC Environment Research Program, participated in the kick-off meeting for the project "Global Cities, Local Solution" at the Barcelona Center for International Affairs (CIDOB) in Barcelona on 19 and 20 November 2015. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a global network of think tanks to study cities from different angles, including: security, transportation, energy, environment and social issues. The CIDOB will develop the project concept paper, which will assign different tasks to different think tanks and plan for the first deliverables to Habitat 3 next year.
Dr. Christian Koch participated in the 5th Berlin Foreign Policy Forum organized by the Körber Foundation in Berlin, Germany. German Foreign Minister Franz-Walter Steinmeier gave the keynote address while subsequent panels focused on Russia and Europe, The Future of the Middle East, China’s Growing Military Threat, and Europe and the Refugees. In one of the breakout session on Iran’s Regional Policy, Dr. Koch gave a perspective from the Arab Gulf States about Iran’s regional role.
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the GRC Foundation participated in the Wolfsberg Conference entitled “The World in Turmoil – Challenges and Opportunities for Business Leaders and Investors” held in Ermatingen, Switzerland. The Wolfsberg Conference brought together 80 leading personalities from the world of business, finance and politics.
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the GRC Foundation, gave a lecture and presentation to participants of the NATO Regional Cooperation course at the NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy. The title focused on “The GCC States and the security of the Gulf region.”
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman, Gulf Research Center participated at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain organised by The International Institute of Strategic Studies.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager participated in the First Gulf Economic Forum organized by the Union of the GCC Chambers in Doha, Qatar. He presented a paper in the first session titled: "Gulf Joint Economic Performance: Successes and Challenges" in which he discussed the current situation of the Gulf economy and the challenges and setbacks that it encounters. He also provided an outlook on the solutions that should be considered by the Gulf States to maintain and develop the Gulf economic structure so as to preserve its regional and international status as well as maintain economic prosperity and the citizens' wellbeing that has been achieved over the last few years.
