GRC was visited by a group of 30 students from Raffles Junior College of Singapore as part of the college's Middle East programme, an enrichment programme that explores the socio-politics and economics of the region. The students were briefed about GRC and the research work that it is carrying out, including economic, political, security and environmental issues related to the Gulf region. The translation work of GRC was also discussed.
Ms. Linda Koch Lorimer, Vice President and Secretary of Yale University and Mr. David Schiffman, Digital Strategist in the Office of the Vice President and Secretary of Yale University visited the GRC to discuss possible collaboration between Yale University and the Gulf Research Center. Discussions focused on cooperation in the areas of publication dissemination, Arabic-English as well as English-Arabic translation and executive training programs.
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of International Studies met with Prof. Dr. Cilja Harders of the Center for Middle Eastern Politics at the Free University of Berlin to discuss closer cooperation including the possibility of exchange programs for doctoral and master’s level students. The Gulf Research Center already has a cooperation agreement with the Free University of Berlin.
Dr. John Duke Anthony, President of the National Council on US-Arab Relations and Mr. Pat Mancino, Vice-President and Director of Development at NCUSAR, visited the Gulf Research Center where they met with GRC’s chairman, Abdulaziz Sager, Dr. Mustafa Alani, Senior Advisor and Director of Security and Terrorism Studies and Dr. Christian Koch, Director of International Studies. In addition to discussing the outcome of the recent US presidential election and its possible impact on the Gulf region, the discussion also focused on cooperation and the possibility of engaging in the NCUSAR’s Congressional Briefing series in Washington DC.
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.
