ABHA, 19 March 2005 — The opening of the Saudi-German Business Assembly was packed to overflowing on Wednesday evening. The event opened by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, governor of Asir Province, was the first foray of Saudi-German Business Group to introduce and promote German business and products in the region.
Prince Khaled visited the representatives of each company and in an address to the visitors stressed the importance of developing and reinforcing trading partnerships for the benefit of the region. Germany is Saudi Arabia’s third biggest trading partner and is actively encouraging closer educational and cultural ties with the Kingdom.
“We were surprised and very pleased at the size and enthusiasm of the gathering,” said Dr. Stefan Keller, German consul general. “The exhibition was not so much about selling German products, but to demonstrate to the region that it is important for us.”
Keller thought that the Asir region had huge economic potential and its importance was rising fast.
“It is important for us and we would be foolish to ignore it,” he said. Part of the exhibition was devoted to the opportunities for higher education on offer in Germany. “We hope to encourage talented students to study in Germany,” Keller said.
Werner Kohch, national aftersales manager for Mohamed Yousef Naghi Motors echoed the thoughts of many of the exhibitors. “The effort of mounting the exhibition has been worthwhile,” he said. “It reinforces our presence in the area and has generated useful and serious new leads and enquiries.”
Dr. Abdulhakeem Waznah, board member of the Saudi German Business Group, co-organizers of the event, said that the event had achieved what he had hoped for in raising mutual awareness. “Our target was to break the ice between Saudis and Germans to achieve integration in tourism and different economic areas.”
He said that the exhibition had acted as a catalyst in the area and for him personally. “The enthusiasm and professionalism of the Germans mounting the event and the response from the local community has made me — and doubtless others — look afresh at our country and the area’s potential.”