(No. 343 - November 13, 2009 - 10:30 a.m. EST) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced the reappointment of Ahmed Galal for a second term as an international member of the Board of Governors of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
“Mr. Galal is a valued member of the Board, and his insight and knowledge have greatly contributed to its oversight role,” said Minister Cannon. “His expertise in areas such as economic development and policy research has been an asset to the Centre.”
IDRC is a Crown corporation created by Parliament in 1970 to help developing countries use science and technology to find practical, long-term solutions to the social, economic and environmental problems they face. Support is directed toward developing an indigenous research capacity to sustain policies and technologies that developing countries need to build healthier, more equitable and more prosperous societies.
IDRC works collaboratively with many federal government departments, especially Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency. Guided by a 21?member international Board of Governors, IDRC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
For more information on IDRC, consult The International Development Research Centre.
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A biographical note follows.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
Angela Prokopiak
Director of Communications
International Development Research Centre
613-696-2598
aprokopiak@idrc.ca
Ahmed Galal (PhD [Economics], Boston University) is managing director of the Economic Research Forum in Egypt. From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Galal served as executive director and director of research of the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, an independent think-tank dedicated to economic development in Egypt. He has worked at the World Bank as an industrial economist in the Europe, Middle East and North Africa region; as senior, then principal, economist at the Bank’s research arm; and as economic advisor in the Private Sector Development Department. His work has combined the conduct of research on different issues with the formulation of policy advice to several countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Mr. Galal has published extensively: he has co-authored or co-edited seven books on a wide range of issues, including privatization, regulation of monopolies, trade and monetary policies. His better-known books include: Welfare Consequences of Selling Public Enterprises, Bureaucrats in Business and Regional Partners in Global Markets. He has also authored a large number of journal articles and book chapters.
