A Saudi Delegation Visits MAS
Wednesday, 25 March 2015, Ramallah. In the course of its visit to Palestine, a delegation from Saudi Arabia led by Dr. Anwar Ishqi, President of the Middle East Center for Strategic and Legal Studies in the Kingdom, visited MAS and met with Dr. Nabeel Kassis, Director General of MAS, in addition to a number of MAS’s senior researchers. Members of the delegation included Dr. Mohammad Abu Nawas, Al Shaikh Ali Rida, and Dr. Abedalhameed Hakeem.
During the meeting, the two parties discussed a range of issues, particularly the challenges facing the Palestinian economy, ways to attract investments to Palestine, and means for overcoming the existing obstacles to development.
In this context, Dr. Kassis explained the history and the rationale behind the establishment of MAS with the aim of creating a Palestinian think-tank dedicated to producing sound innovative policy research to aid and support private and public institutions, as well as individual policy-makers, working in the field of economic development. He also briefed the guests on the Palestinian economic situation under occupation and the untapped potentials, especially in Area “C” as named by Israel. In his turn, Dr. Ishqi stressed the importance of research centers in the Middle East and their role in strengthening the decision-making process. He also highlighted the Saudi MAS, Meetings, Press Release, 2015 interest in establishing collaboration with MAS. In conclusion, the two parties agreed on signing a memorandum of understanding that aims to foster cooperation between the two institutions, paving the ground for the exchange of information, communication, and published research.