Germany is the third largest trading partner for Saudi Arabia worldwide. In 2008, German companies’ exports cumulated at 5.2 billion euros (5.3 billion euros in 2007) despite the worldwide economic crisis. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia exported goods worth 1.5 billion euros to Germany in 2008. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia being the biggest economy in the Middle East, it is an important trading partner for Germany.
The German-Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO), which was founded in Riyadh in 1978, was established to support and to further develop bilateral business relations between Germany and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Yemen. GESALO is the official representative of German Industry and Commerce in these countries and part of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (Deutscher Industrie-und Handelsk-ammertag, DIHK), and the 80 bilateral German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (AHK) around the world.
Since 2005, Gerd M. Doepner is the delegate of the German Industry & Commerce in Saudi Arabia and is highly committed with his team to further developing business ties between Saudi Arabia and Germany. Due to his deep understanding of the country and the whole region, GESALO is confident to build on what has already been achieved.
GESALO’s long representation in Saudi Arabia has been an overwhelming success for the people and companies involved. Thus, we were happy to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of GESALO on May 10 this year with a gala dinner that was attended by official representatives from Germany and Saudi Arabia. We were honored to welcome Martin Wansleben, CEO of the Association of German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Fahad Al-Sultan, secretary-general of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Saudi Minister of Finance, Ibrahim Al-Assaf and the German Minister of Economics and Technology, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. The festivities were hosted in Riyadh and sponsored by well known companies such as DETASAD, EADS, Fraport and Siemens.
GESALO’s services range from basic market and address research, market entry support into Saudi Arabia and the initiating of concrete business cooperation between German and Saudi companies, the representation of the worldwide known German trade shows, to the opportunity to profit from permanent local representation through GESALO’s business pool. One of GESALO’s major aims is to make German companies familiar with the impressive business opportunities in the Kingdom. For that reason GESALO has been implementing a range of projects in 2009 in order to introduce German companies without prior experience in the Kingdom to the Saudi market.
On the one hand GESALO has conducted and will conduct several informative events in Germany to promote Saudi Arabia to German companies and to inform these companies about business opportunities in the country. On the other hand, we were also happy to promote the Kingdom right on the spot organizing B2B meetings for delegations and for businessmen on an individual basis.
As for the coming three months we will organize three more delegations. One involving companies from the petrochemical industry, followed by one with companies focusing on water management and finally one with companies from the IT, communication and security systems industry. Furthermore, our office is also committed to bringing Saudi companies to Germany and to helping them find local business partners.
Another very important mission of GESALO is to promote German trade fairs for Saudi companies looking for truly international contacts.
Germany is the biggest trade fair market in the world with two-thirds of all international trade fairs taking place in the country. We assist Saudi businessmen in targeting the right trade fair, getting tickets and visas as well as in arranging convenient travel plans for the visitors.
From January to September 2009 some of the major international trade fairs that have taken place in Germany were: CeBIT (the world’s No. 1 exhibition for IT and Telecommunication in Hannover), Domotex (international exhibition for floor coverings in Hannover), Hannover Messe (the international trade fair for industrial solutions in Hannover), IFAT (the leading international trade fair for water, sewage, refuse and recycling in Munich), and Photokina (world of imaging in Cologne).
Trade fairs like CeBIT, IFAT and Domotex are historically highly frequented by Saudi visitors and exhibitors. GESALO also promotes Saudi trade fairs. The most popular exhibition in which German companies traditionally participate as exhibitors and visitors is the Saudi Build exhibition.
This year we expect around 20 German companies to present themselves in the German Pavilion which is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology.
Whenever we meet companies in Germany we do our best to convey a realistic picture of the Kingdom. People often simply do not get enough information about the true life in Saudi Arabia. We think that the Kingdom deserves a lot more interest and attention. Therefore, we are optimistic that we can further boost business ties between German and Saudi Arabian companies building up on a successful past and to convince German companies about the attractiveness of the Saudi Arabian market.
For further information, contact Marko Ackermann, Deputy Delegate of German Industry and Commerce, at [email protected]
