Saudi Arabia and Germany discussed industrial cooperation, especially in the automobiles, medical technology, and artificial intelligence sectors, at the Saudi-German Business Forum.
Organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the Forum was held in Riyadh with the participation of more than 40 Saudi and German companies, from various economic sectors, as a German industrial delegation visited the Kingdom.
The Bavarian Industry Association led the delegation, with the participation of the German-Arab Friendship Association and the German-Saudi Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO).
The delegation included companies operating in water, training, education, infrastructure, industries, construction, innovation, vehicles, medical technologies, energy, technology, and artificial intelligence.
Head of the Saudi delegation Abdulrahman al-Zamil discussed Saudi developments in the economic and stimulus investment environment and reviewed investment opportunities available for German companies in all sectors, particularly at the industrial level, which is witnessing a qualitative leap in the Kingdom in light of Vision 2030.
Managing Director of Foreign Trade for the Bavarian Industry Association Volker Lenweber praised the Kingdom’s economic progress, expressing the delegates' interest in boosting business relations with the country, particularly in the industrial sector, and looking into potential investment opportunities.
Lenweber noted that Germany's cutting-edge products and expertise could significantly contribute to the success of industrial projects in Saudi Arabia.
Germany is one of Saudi Arabia's most important trading partners, and relations between them are based on a solid institutional base represented by the Saudi-German Joint Committee and the Saudi-German Business Council, in addition to several memorandums and various cooperation agreements.
The commercial exchange volume between Saudi Arabia and Germany in 2020 reached some SAR28.5 billion. Germany ranks 62nd in the Kingdom's exporting countries and fourth in importing countries.
German ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dieter Lamele said he was looking forward to increasing cooperation in the areas that would enable them to boost hydrogen manufacturing in the Kingdom, transfer technology, and exchange experiences in the fields of artificial intelligence, renewable energy, education, and tourism.
German MP Alexander Radwan, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, said Berlin is determined to build a sustainable and long-term partnership with Riyadh in the economy and technological industries, science and research fields and increase the exchange visits of youth and business delegations.
Former Minister of Economy and Technology Otto Weiss, head of the German-Saudi People's Friendship Association, believes the coming period will witness an actual translation of the results of these visits in terms of economic, investment, and scientific agreements.
He noted that the radical transformation of the Saudi economy and Vision 2030 programs would bolster cooperation between the two countries, especially in the technological industry, technology, knowledge, science, and training.
Weiss cited several agreements signed in the education sector between the Technical University of Munich and King Saud and King Faisal Universities, which he described as constructive and tangible.
Deputy delegate of the German-Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO) Astrid Crookes revealed that work is underway to link the Saudi and German economies and enhance cooperation in the fields of hydrocarbons and hydrogen.
She indicated that the visiting delegation held talks between seven German companies operating in the Kingdom, announcing that another delegation would arrive next week to discuss sanitation, water desalination, and agricultural technology.
