GHORFA meeting in Berlin

The forum will be held under the auspices of the federal minister of economics and technology and is being organised by GHORFA, the Arab-German association for trade and industry, and DHIT, the joint organization of Germany's chambers of trade & industry in conjunction with the Arab Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group.

More than 600 participants are expected to take part in the event from June 21-22. It will focus its attention on investments and joint ventures in industry and financing, the transfer of modern information technology, the emerging new economy, the removal of legal and commercial obstacles in German-Arab trade relations, and also on fostering good personal contacts between German and Arab businessmen in general.

First official visit of a German president to Qatar

The first official talks in Doha between Qatar and Germany, headed by the emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and German president Johannes Rau, were attended by the heir apparent, Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani and prime minister Sheikh Adullah bin Khalifa al-Thani. They were also attended by foreign minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, minister of finance, economy and trade, Yousef Hussein Kamal, president of the emiri diwan Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani and Qatari ambassador to Germany Mohamed Hassan al-Jaber.

The Talks dealt with bilateral relations, and means of promoting them in various fields. The main interest of Qatar centres on gaining EU customers for its natural gas, which at present is mainly exported to Asia. It was stressed that there were several areas in which Germany and Qatar could strengthen existing co-operation, and many other new fields could be explored. German companies enjoy a good reputation particularly in environmental technologies such as water and air purification as well as waste disposal and recycling. Also, German petrochemical companies are well positioned in Qatar.

President Rau paid a visit to Germany's largest project in Qatar, the Krupp Uhde complex at the industrial city Mesaieed, and was welcomed by Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, minister of energy and industry of Qatar, and Klaus Schneider, MD technology of Krupp Uhde.

Commissioned by the Qatar Vinyl Company, a joint enterprise of the Qatar Petrochemical Co. (31.9 %), Qatar Petroleum (25.5%), Elf Atochem (12.9 %) and Norsk Hydro (29.7%), on the site in Mesaieed Industrial City, a new large plant worth $450 million will be erected. The contractors are Krupp Uhde (60%) and their Italian partner TechNip Italy (40%), who have confirmed their commitment to perform the construction of the plant, which is scheduled for completion by July 8, 2001.

The plant will produce 175,000 tons of ethylene dichloride (EDC) a year and 230,000 tons of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), both basic materials for the manufacturing of PVC, as well as 290,000 tons of natron solution. The bulk of the output will be shipped from the port of Mesaieed Industrial City to customers in South Esast Asia.

Other subjects of the Qatari-German talks included the prospects for students from Qatar in Germany and the preparation of Asian Games to be hosted by Qatar in 2006.

DaimlerChrysler opens new regional headquarters in Dubai

General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai and UAE defence minister, has opened DaimlerChrysler's new 26,600 m² regional headquarters and regional logistics centre in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, in Dubai, UAE.

Joint Germany-Oman commission assembles in Berlin

The 8th Session of the German-Oman joint economic commission will be held in Berlin on April 25 and 26 in the new premises of the German ministry of economics and technology in Berlin. It will be chaired by Ali Masoud Al-Sunaidy, Oman's under secretary for commerce & industry and, and on the German side, by Wedige von Dewitz.

The agenda includes present and future economic relations between the two countries, technical co-operation and joint work in the health sector, Oman's privatisation plans, future projects in Oman with German participation, and opportunities for joint ventures. Also featuring in the discussions will be direct investments by German companies, co-operation in agriculture, fisheries and tourism, participation in trade fairs, German assistance with vocational training and environmental matters.

German-Qatar Asian Games initiative

A working group for the Asian Games Qatar 2006 has been formed on the initiative of Lahmeyer International, an independent Germany-based company of consulting engineers specialised in complex infrastructure projects around the globe.

The group has been set up in response of Qatar's call for the German economy to participate in the preparation of the vast infrastructure work required for the games, which include the planning and construction of the Olympic village, sports and transport facilities, hotels, etc. The group is to be headed by Martin Bey, ceo of Lahmeyer International.