Indian Ocean Dialogue
Indian Ocean Dialogue - Afghanistan: A Time for Review
- Friday, 29 October 2010
Major General John Hartley AO, (Retd)
Institute Director and CEO Future Directions International
Future Directions International Indian Ocean Dialogue co-sponsored Curtin University’s Second Annual National Security and Strategy Workshop on 29 October 2010. Titled “Afghanistan: The Old-New Geopolitical Black Hole”, FDI’s Institute Director and CEO, Major General John Hartley AO (Retd), gave the keynote address.
Indian Ocean Dialogue - The Indian Ocean Research Group (IORG) Inc: History, Aims, Goals and Future Directions
- Friday, 01 October 2010
Dr Dennis Rumley
Chairperson, Indian Ocean Research Group Inc. Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Western Australia
The Indian Ocean Research Group (IORG) is a social science, policy-oriented research network. It was formed with the key objective of encouraging a policy dialogue among academics, governments, industries, NGOs and communities towards the vision of a peaceful, stable, prosperous Indian Ocean Region.
Pakistan: Perspectives, Challenges and Opportunities
- Friday, 03 September 2010
Her Excellency Ms Fauzia Nasreen
High Commissioner of Pakistan
In the historical perspective, Pakistan’s creation and its journey through the last six decades or so is a story of challenges and opportunities. Challenges that were managed in a regional environment predicated on the Cold War paradigm. Opportunities that were advanced on the basis of astute diplomacy, political will and robust economic and development credentials. However, the burden of shifting security environments beset initially by a polarised and, later, by a fluid world order overwhelmed the nation.
By fostering closer ties and expanding co-operation with Pakistan, Australia’s role as a catalyst in unlocking opportunities can be significant. Pakistan’s strategic location at the cross roads of the emerging regions makes it a worthy partner for Australia.
Australia’s Engagement with the Gulf: Opportunities and Challenges
- Friday, 06 August 2010
Mr Moe Sultan
Executive Director, Gulf-Australia Business Council
The countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council are Australia’s ninth-largest trading partner and have a combined Gross Domestic Product estimated by the IMF at $1.2 trillion dollars. In 2008, GCC trade was estimated to be approximately $6.8 billion. While the GCC is not immune to fiscal issues and concerns, it remains a strong and growing global economic trading group. The GCC is Australia’s tenth-largest export market.
Australia is an extremely important trade partner for the GCC states. It is ranked ninth in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business survey and is an attractive investment market for the Gulf states. Australia’s trade foundation with the Gulf has been in traditional areas such as wheat, barley, rice, dairy products and live sheep. Now we are seeing new markets developing for Australian exports, particularly in services such as engineering consultancy, architecture, information and communication technologies, travel and tourism, interior design, landscaping, financial services, veterinary services and even event management.