Dr. Kwon Hyung Lee is a senior research fellow, Head of the Middle East and Africa team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), a government-funded think-tank. Before joining the KIEP, he analyzed market trends and industrial development in the automobile sector at Kia Motors’ economic research institute. He also worked for Incheon Development Institute, Incheon Metropolitan City’s think-tank, contributing to implementation of the City’s industrial policies. His research at the KIEP focuses on industrial and energy policies in Middle Eastern countries as well as economic cooperation between Korea and the Middle East. His recent publications are on ‘Financial Cooperation between Korea and the Middle East in the New Industrial and Financial Environment’, ‘Lower Oil Prices and Economic Cooperation between Korea and the Middle East’ and ‘SME Promotion Policies in the Middle East and their Implications for Korea - Middle East Cooperation’. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Economics from Seoul National University and a PhD degree in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.