Saudi-German panel to explore cooperation in various sectors

Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf and German Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel are due to co-chair the joint economic commission on Sunday this week, according to the German Embassy.
This will be the 19th meeting of the Saudi-German Joint Commission, which will focus on means of increasing cooperation in various sectors of the economy.
Gabriel and a large German delegation are set to arrive today, and will attend the commission meeting on Sunday at a local hotel in the capital. The two sides will discuss cooperation in major areas of the economy.
Andreas Hergenroether, German delegate for industry and commerce in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen, said “Today, Saudi Arabia is the most important partner in the MENA region for the German economy,” adding that the “German economy stands for fair business, active transfer of knowhow as well as for high quality products. These are the main reasons for the extraordinary success of German products worldwide.”
The German minister will also meet other ministers and senior state officials during his visit.
Parallel to the joint economic commission meeting will be a Saudi-German business forum to be attended by 120 high-ranking German company representatives and 280 Saudi counterparts.
The forum will be attended by Brigitte Zypries, German parliamentary state secretary of economy; Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC); Voljer Treier, deputy CEO of Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK); Sheikh Khaled Al Juffali, co-chairman of the Saudi-German Business Council and managing partner at E.A. Juffali Brothers Group; and Wolfgang Buechele, co-chairman of the Saudi –German Business Council and chairman of Linde Group.
Representing the economies of both countries, the participating entrepreneurs will discuss further opportunities for cooperation in four panels covering industrial diversification, infrastructure and transport, energy and energy efficiency, and opportunities for regulatory challenges in bilateral trade.
The forum will conclude with the signing of the agreed minutes by Al–Assaf and Gabriel.