Arab-German Family Business Summit in Bahrain offers unique opportunity to share latest international thinking on family business management

The summit, being held in Bahrain for the first time, will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manama from 30 October to 1 November 2009. Organised by the International Institute for Family Enterprises (IIFE), in close cooperation with the Bahrain EDB, the event will be attended by over 200 representatives from German and Arab family owned companies.

The summit will focus on how to address the challenges that confront family businesses in the current era of profound structural change in the global economy. Leading discussions in workshops and roundtables will be business leaders from the Middle East and Germany, as well as academics from world class institutions including Harvard Business School, Princeton University, The Wharton School, Yale University, Cairo University and Witten/Herdecke University, which is host to IIFE.

Shaikh Mohammed said:

"The EDB and the IIFE have worked closely together to make this year's summit a major success. Bahrain's economy, the most diversified and arguably one of the most modern and liberal in the Gulf, was built on a foundation of family businesses. In Bahrain, as part of our Economic Vision 2030, we actively encourage continued innovation and growth of such businesses as a key part of the Kingdom's economic development. This event offers the opportunity for the region's family owned businesses to share experiences with their German counterparts, to become involved in discussion, hear the latest international thinking on family business management, and to network and develop new business contacts for the future."

Khalid Mohamed Kanoo, Group Managing Director of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, and patron of the event, said, "Interest in the region from German family owned companies is growing, with many German companies using Bahrain as a base to develop their business and their contacts. We are extremely pleased that nearly 100 owners of leading German family-run companies have chosen to join around 100 Arab family businesses and 40 international business academics to explore how our common business interests can develop and grow."

Dr Hubert Lang, German Ambassador to Bahrain, said, "Germany and Bahrain have strong business links which go back many years, some even for decades. In its second year, the Arab-German Family Business Summit will help to sustain and reinforce these ties and bring further business benefits to both our countries."

Paul Dietze, Managing Director of the International Institute for Family Enterprises (IIFE) and organiser of the summit, said, "The uniqueness of the Arab-German Family Business Summit is that we are bringing the owners of family-run companies together, not the sales teams as in conventional business exhibitions. Therefore we will see the highest decision-makers in personal interaction, building relationships and making deals on the spot in our Face-to-Face Business talks."

Well known German family owned companies represented at this year's summit include Henkel, Kärcher, Knauf, Mueller, Oetker, all of which already have business interests in the region, and many others attending are seeking to develop or renew business contacts, partnerships and opportunities.