Deputy Prime Minister of Baden-Wurttemberg's visit to Sharjah to boost co-operation between the two states

"The Deputy Prime Minister's visit," said Mr. Mubarak Balaswad, Director General of Expo Centre Sharjah, "will be an important milestone in Baden Wurttemberg's growing relationship with Sharjah and the UAE. We will be exploring areas for further economic and political co-operation between the two states."

Top on the German minister's agenda is the setting up of a liaison office of Sharjah in Baden-Wurttemberg, which will facilitate trade between the two states. " The state of Baden-Wurttemberg sees Sharjah as an important gateway to the GCC markets, and setting up a liaison office will help businessmen from the German state to easily access this region through Sharjah," pointed out Dr. Walter Doring.

Speaking on the economic strengths of Baden-Wurttemberg, Dr. Doring said, "Baden Wurttemberg is one of the most powerful economic states of the Federal Republic of Germany and one of the leading economic regions of the world. This in part, is due to the presence of internationally reputed, future-oriented corporations such as DaimlerChrysler, Bosch, Porsche, etc, and also due to the large number of small and medium sized companies manufacturing products for niche markets throughout the world."

The Buyer-Seller Meet brings to Sharjah sixteen leading industrial suppliers from the German state dealing in a wide range of industrial products made for niche markets. The categories represented by the participants include: * Plastic injection, injection-mold-makers * Architects, interior architects * Gastronomy, food conveyor systems * Plastic machinery: moulding machines for expandable polystyrene (EPS) * Textile, apparel, clothes, industrial sewing machines, sewing machine spare parts *Metal design, art metalwork and weapons * Turn key planning, designing and production of sewage treatment plants, and relative products, construction of chemical machinery, food & beverage machinery and containers * Satellite based telecommunications * Swimwear, bathing caps, bathing shoes, swimming goggles, inflatable articles, aqua fitness articles, baby products, hot water bottles *Ceramic membranes and filter systems * Mercedes cars etc.

The Buyer-Sellers Meet will be held in conjunction with the Middle East Industrial Show (MEIS) which will take place at Expo Centre Sharjah from 19-22 October 2003. MEIS integrates five industrial categories, viz. Fluid Control, Welding & Cutting, Test and Instrumentation, Factory Equipment, and Industrial Safety.

Economic strengths of Baden-Wurttemberg
A knowledge-based economy renowned for the innovativeness of its manufacturing and industrial sector, the state of Baden Wurttemberg is one of the few regions in the world spending more than 3% of its GDP on research and development. Its GDP per capita was approximately 25,000 Euros last year, well above the German and European averages. Moreover, its export volume, at approximately 8 000 Euros per capita last year, is far above Germany's federal average and clearly surpasses the figure for other industrial nations such as Japan (approx. 2,250 Euros) and the USA (approx. 2,850 Euros). Approximately 2% of the world's exports come from this federal state.