The GRC Chairman Abdulaziz Sager received Philip Erzinger, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Gallen Foundation to discuss mutual interests and the GRC’s assistance in the holding of the 39th annual St. Gallen symposium scheduled for May 2009.
Dr. Robin Niblett, Director of Chatham House, visited the GRC to discuss current developments as well as possible collaboration between Chatham House and the Gulf Research Center. Among the three core research areas that Chatham focuses on are Energy, Environment and Resource Governance; International Economics; and Regional and Security Studies. Both sides also discussed about possible organizing joint events on topical Gulf regional issues.
A delegation of the young executives program of the German Ministry of Economy visited GRC on November 6, 2008. They were briefed by Dr. Christian Koch, Director International Relations and Dr. Eckart Woertz, Program Manager Economics about the impact of the global financial crisis on the GCC countries and their challenges in the international political system.
A delegation from the Fraser Institute, an independent think tank headquartered in Vancouver, Canada and publisher of the Economic Freedom in the Arab World Annual Report, visited the Gulf Research Center on November 2 to discuss regional development in the Gulf region. Following a short introduction by the chairman about the GRC activities and objectives, the meeting proceeded to a wide-ranging and interactive discussion round during which topics ranging from political, security and economic issues were highlighted.
Mr. Jean François-Poncet, President of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the French Senate in Paris and former Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the Gulf Research Center to discuss current developments in the region. He was accompanied by Senator Madame Cerisier ben Guiga, Frederic Mauro, Advisor for the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces and Mrs. Nada Yafi, French Consul General.
Our chairman Mr. Abdulaziz Sager had a meeting with the Secretary General of the Organisation fo the Islamic Conference Prof. Dr. Dr. H.C.Mult Ekmedleddin Ihsanogli in Jeddah on the 10th September 2008.
The new Ambassador of South Africa to the United Arab Emirates, his Excellency Mr. Yacoob Abba Omar and the Consul General of South Africa in Dubai, Ms. Agnes Nyamande-Pitso, visited the Gulf Research Center (GRC). They were briefed on the activities of the GRC as well as the main current issues in the region. Cooperation towards the organization of the first Gulf-Africa Strategy Forum was also discussed.
