Organizers & Partners

Organizer

North Africa Middle East Initiative of German Business (NMI)

As the voice of German business in Germany and the MENA region, the North Africa Middle East Initiative of German Business (NMI) supports the establishment and expansion of bilateral economic relations. NMI shapes the debate on potential and challenges and communicates economic concerns German companies may face.

NMI supports visits by the German government (and vice versa) together with business delegations and advocates reducing trade and investment barriers in the region and within the European Union.

The initiative’s members are BDI, DIHK, BGA, Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft e.V and the Bankenverband. NMI has high-level contacts at political and economic levels both in Germany and the MENA region, great expertise and a broad network, including the German Chambers of Commerce (AHKs) in the region. It pools regional economic interests and enables a concerted representation of German business interests, thus making it a key player in the field of cooperation between Germany and the MENA countries.


Host

German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK UAE)

The German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK) promotes and supports trade relations between Germany and the UAE, and in particular supports German companies in building up and extending their business in the region. Since 2009 the AHK UAE has obtained the status of a bilateral membership organization, with currently over 470 German and local member companies.

In addition to its role as the official representation of the German Industry & Commerce on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany, AHK also provides companies with business intelligence and consulting services for the market entry and, as a membership organization, offers an effective information and networking platform.

Under the name German Industry & Commerce Office, AHK UAE also covers the countries Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar and coordinates the activities of the German Liaison Office for Industry & Commerce in Iraq (DWI).


Partners

German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Egypt)

The network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs), consisting of bilateral chambers of commerce abroad, delegations and representative offices of German business, advises, supports and represents German companies around the world who want to set up or expand their foreign business. AHKs are institutions that promote German foreign trade.

The German-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry was founded in Cairo in 1951 as the first German chamber of commerce abroad in the Arab world. With more than 2,500 member companies, it is now the largest bilateral business organization in the context of German-Arab relations. It plays a central role in economic cooperation between Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Germany. In addition to its headquarters in Cairo, the Chamber has branches in Alexandria and Ismaeliyyah.


German-Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (AHK Saudi Arabia)

The German-Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO) is part of the worldwide network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) with 140 locations in 92 countries. GESALO is the official representation of the German Industry in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen, and thus the key player of German foreign trade promotion on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany. GESALO was founded in 1978 in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and has a large network of business and institutional relations. GESALO offers a range of services to assist German companies in the creation of business opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The key strength of GESALO is its network which allows creating synergies and providing valuable information for businesses. Within Germany, GESALO is closely connected to all 79 Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs), which have a long tradition in supporting German companies locally and serving as their partner when extending their business relations to foreign countries. Thanks to the good cooperation of both structures at home and abroad, GESALO can help to lay the foundation for successful and sustainable bilateral business relations.

In Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, GESALO works closely with many stakeholders from the public as well as private sector and has close relations to its Saudi Arabian and Bahraini counterparts, namely the Council of Saudi Chambers, the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry just to name a few.
Under the brand “DEinternational” GESALO provides services to German, Saudi Arabian and Bahraini companies to support their foreign business activities. This includes market information, contacts to local businesses, organization of business trips, trade fair marketing and participation, business mediation, legal expert support through its GESAlaw Network, visa and translation services, as well as local support for companies that are already established in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.
Due to its extensive network in the public and private sectors and based on more than 40 years of market experience, GESALO is a reliable partner for German, Saudi Arabian and Bahraini companies.