IISS Middle East holds workshop

Manama, July 28 (BNA): The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) held its premises here yesterday a workshop titled ‘A New Era of GCC Geo-Economic Opportunity with China and India’. The workshop brought together speakers from Bahrain, GCC, India and China. Speakers included ambassadors and global business leaders from the energy sector, financial services and telecommunications as well as GCC ministry representatives and geo-economics experts. The workshop covered how the rise of India and China as global economic powers provides an opportunity for GCC economies to increase their global investment outreach with these countries. Participants also discussed the challenges that face investors seeking new opportunities in unfamiliar regions. Commenting on this workshop, IISS Geo-Economics Programme Director Dr. Sanjaya Baru said: "China and India have longstanding relations with GCC countries and trade is growing in this region. Looking forward, it is important to build upon the existing economic cooperation between GCC, China and India as well as address the challenges that are present." IISS-Middle East Managing Director Katadah Zaman also added: "This workshop brought together a diverse group of international business leaders, public sector representatives and geo-economics experts. The IISS-Middle East has been facilitating discussion between decision makers, policy analysts and business leaders in order to address issues relevant to the GCC economies." The IISS will be hosting the Bahrain Bay Forum, an international conference on business opportunity in the Middle East, later this year.