Kwon Hyung Lee

Trends and Implications of Islamic Project Finance: A Study on the GCC Region

The Islamic finance industry, which is based on Sharia, has been growing at a relatively fast pace despite the 2008 global financial crisis. Project finance in the Middle Eastern construction market is witnessing a growing inflow of financial procurement through Islamic finance. In order to expand the number of construction projects in the Middle East and reinforce financing capacity to this end, Korea should focus more attention on the Islamic finance industry and Islamic project finance. This paper takes a look at trends in Islamic project finance, mainly in the GCC region, and seeks policy implications for Korea.

Logistics Hub Strategy of the GCC Countries and Policy Implications: With a Focus on Saudi Arabia and the UAE

The aim of the research is to review strategic policies toward logistics hub of the GCC countries including infrastructure and hinterland development and to suggest government policies to upgrade industrial and logistics cooperation between Korea and GCC countries. In particular, logistics hub policies promoted in Saudi Arabia and UAE are analysed as case studies to draw some implications for the government policies. First, the logistics sector should be considered in connection with industrial sectors, as logistics hubs have been developed as tools for economic diversification. Second, logistics hubs in the GCC countries could be used as a base to re-export Korean products to the Iranian market after international sanctions against Iran are removed. Third, investment by Korean companies is necessary for the establishment of joint ventures between Korea and the GCC countries in logistics related business activities. Fourth, logistics information platforms should be established in major logistics hubs in the region, to help Korean companies seeking information on logistics demand and cooperative partners in the GCC market.

Political Structure and Economic Policy in Iran

The aim of this study is to examine the characteristics of Iran’s political and power structure, the key trends of major political powers, and the contending issues in economic policies. This study then analyzes how Iran’s political and power structures are related to main features of political powers and economic policies, drawing some policy implications for Korea.