Air Marshal (Rtd.) Syed Quaiser Hussain, ambassador, Pakistan embassy, UAE; Mr. Amanullah Larik, Consul-General; and Mr. Fayyaz Hussain Chaudhry, counselor.
Professor Olivier de la Grandville, Department of Economics, University of Geneva, Prof. Grandville pointed out that in the 21st century the Gulf region is moving ahead faster than Europe. Given the infrastructure available at GRC, the Geneva-based academic expresses interest in exploring the possibilities of cooperation between the University of Geneva and GRC. He also encouraged the idea of having more students from the region study in Switzerland.
Delegation from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, led by Mr Matthew L. Diver, Master of Public Policy Candidate , 2004 The meeting with GRC Chairman Sheikh Abdulaziz Sager touched on issues pertaining to Dubai macro and micro economics, the advantages Dubai has for promoting and attracting investments, such as connectivity, availability of data, infrastructure, competitiveness, cultural tolerance and automated systems. The need to develop those factors, the challenges facing Dubai, comparison of Dubai with other regional economies and the role of research centers in promoting welfarism were the other topics discussed.
Dr. Victor Mashtabei, deputy head, Ukraine embassy.
Mr. Vicken Koundakjian, policy adviser, Canadian president's office.
Mr. Tito Gronou, second secretary, Finland embassy.
Prof. Weidenfeld, director, Centre for Applied Policy Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, said: It is a very ambitious joint initiative of GRC and the Centre for Applied Policy Research. The GRC is a highly dynamic research centre and we at the Centre for Applied Policy Research are quite experienced in this program.Joining Prof. Weidenfeld were two other distinguished German personalities Josef Janning, member of the Management Committee at Bertelsmann Foundation and director of the Bertelsmann Group for Policy Research, Center for Applied Policy Research, and Christian Peter Hanelt, director of the Europe and the Middle East project, which is part of the Bertelsmann Foundation's International Relations Program.
Dr. Naser Tibi, Executive Director, Center for Externally Funded Research Activities, UAE University.
Dr. Frauke Heard-Bey, Center for Documentation and Research, Presidential Court, UAE.
Dr Guido Steinberg, international terrorism expert, Berlin.
