1- Justin Holbrook, Director of Econova – an Australian organization committed to achieving sustainable urban development – and David Lewis, General Manager – Middle East, discussed promoting long-term conditions for sustainable development and environmental awareness in the Gulf region and the Australian/Pacific region. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to specifically collaborate on water and energy technology solutions.
2- Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Sheikh Tariq Bin Faisal Al-Qassimi held discussions with the GRC to explore possible areas of cooperation.
A group of 25 women students from the UAE University, Al Ain, were introduced to the center’s research programs, including the women's issues, GCC economics, GCC-EU relations and Security and Terrorism portals, as well the Gulf in the Media sites. The visit was organized as part of the GRC’s efforts to inculcate the spirit of research and higher education among the youth, as well as educate them about the new techniques that are becoming available in the educational sector in the region, especially via the Web media.
1- Singapore’s Consul-General Dileep Nair discussed the possibility of the GRC cooperating with research institutes in Singapore and furthering the Asian-Middle East Dialogue.
2- Indian Ambassador to the UAE Chandra Mohan Bhandari held talks with the GRC on a range of issues, including GCC-India relations and New Delhi’s stand on Iran’s nuclear program, as well as the instability in Iraq. As the GCC and India head for talks on a free trade agreement and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia prepares to visit India in January 2006, it was emphasized that the GCC-India engagement should grow beyond the political and economic dimensions to include security cooperation as well.
Dr. Heinz Hoffman, Executive Director of GTZ International Services, Germany, and Dr. Bernhard Dohle, GTZ Gulf Region Office Resident Representative held follow-up discussions with the GRC about signing a memorandum of understanding to establish a Gulf Development Program. Both sides agreed on the modalities of cooperation.
Ambassador Hamid Ansari, Distinguished Fellow, West and Central Asia Program, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, discussed issues related to Iraq and the possibility of conducting a joint GCC-India workshop in 2006.
1- Prof. Dr. Jurgen Gramke, Director of the Institute for European Affairs in Germany, discussed cooperation possibilities between the two organizations with regard to improving GCC-EU relations.
2- Veteran Indian print and television journalist Saeed Naqvi exchanged views on reforms in the GCC countries, developments in Iraq, US policies in the region and GCC-India relations, especially in the realm of energy security
