A delegation from the Institute of West Asian Studies (IKRAB) of the National University of Malaysia (UKM) comprising Prof. Dr. Siti Rugayah HJ. Tibek, Director, Prof. Dr. Jamal Othman, Deputy Director and Prof. Dr. Mohd. Safar Hasim, Principal Fellow visited GRC on 15th March 2009. The Malaysian delegation received a briefing about the various GRC work programs and discussed possible areas of cooperation. The IKRAB delegation informed GRC about their ongoing research projects on Malaysia-West Asia relations, covering specific themes such as, Tourism, Free Trade Agreement and Socio-economic development. The GRC team, led by the Chairman, Mr. Abdulaziz Sager, addressed the issues raised as well as potential areas cooperation, and agreed to take forward the existing momentum. It was decided to transform the letter of intent signed earlier between IKRAB and GRC into a formal MoU in the near future.
Joanna R. Veltri, Deputy Director Middle East & Africa at the U.S. Department of Treasury in Washington visited GRC for a briefing about petrodollar recycling and Gulf investment strategies
Dr. Neil Quilliam, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Desk at Control Risks in London visited the GRC to talk about ways of cooperation
A delegation of the Universities of Darmstadt and Bingen visited GRC on February 24, 2009 to inform themselves about market potential for German environmental companies in the UAE. They were briefed by Dr. Mohammed Raouf and Dr. Eckart Woertz about contemporary environmental issues in the UAE.
H. E. Mats Odell, Minister for Local Government & Financial Markets of the Kingdom of Sweden visited GRC on February 23, 2009. He headed a high ranking delegation of Swedish bankers and they were briefed by Dr. Eckart Woertz, Program Manager Economics at GRC about the Impact of the Global Financial Crisis in the Gulf Region
A group of seven professors and administrators from INSEAD, one of the world’s largest graduate business schools visited GRC. The GRC Chairman briefed the visitors on the work of GRC and the business education and research landscape in the Gulf region was discussed together with relevant economic issues. Future cooperation between GRC and INSEAD in the area of business-related research and education was also addressed.
