JEDDAH: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday her country was committed to strong relations with Saudi Arabia and the mission she had undertaken was aimed at further boosting trade and investment between the two countries.
Germany wants to invest in more than just oil in Saudi Arabia by partnering in renewable energy, rail transport and other projects, Merkel said Wednesday. She was addressing entrepreneurs at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), offering assurances that Germany's economy will remain strong despite the European debt crisis. "I know you look to Europe with a concerned eye after the challenges the euro has faced," she said. "We will make every effort to ensure the stability of the currency by promoting bilateral trade."
Merkel said her country would push "with all our strength" for a strong euro. "Germany, as the largest exporting nation and the largest economy in the European Union, has strongly benefited from the common currency in the past. So, we will work with all our strength to back a strong euro," she said while addressing Saudi businessmen.
The chancellor, who met Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in Jeddah on Tuesday, was given an enthusiastic reception at the JCCI. The Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chairman Saleh Kamel, who is also JCCI chairman, in his welcoming remarks, highlighted the close bilateral ties and outlined the interest of both countries in expanding mutual trade and investment.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Zainal Alireza, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Saudi Ambassador to Germany Osama Shubokshi, Khalid Al-Suliman, vice president of King Abdullah City for Nuclear and Renewable Energy, and local business leaders were among those who participated in a closed-door discussion with the chancellor and her accompanying delegation at the JCCI.
Merkel's visit to the Kingdom is part of her four-nation Gulf tour seeking to further expand German trade.
The chancellor said she was deeply concerned with the matter of delay in getting visas for Saudis, especially students, to visit her country. "We'll do everything possible to speed up the issuance of entry visas and boost bilateral relations in all areas," she said.
Merkel added that the euro countries must be aligned on the side of the region's fittest economies, and not its weakest counterparts, in a bid to support the currency and boost European competitiveness. "This is the goal Germany is pursuing. If we do not achieve this goal, we will not be competitive in the world," she said.
Having visited the UAE earlier, the Kingdom was the second stop for her in the Gulf where she is advocating a European Union-Gulf free trade agreement. "This has been under negotiation for many years and I am determined to see that it goes through successfully," she said.
She admitted that Europe in general and Germany in particular had been overtaken by some Asian countries and said she was aware that these (Asian) countries had moved faster to reach trade pacts with the GCC. "I am committed personally now to overcoming the last obstacles" to conclude an agreement, she said, adding that she would work to clear barriers to bilateral investment and trade, which are strongly in favor of Germany. Merkel also had a separate meeting with Saudi businesswomen. "Saudi Arabia's development experience in different sectors and the role of women in various fields have made it a modern state and an important partner in the international arena," the chancellor said.
Alireza said the Kingdom's industrial output would increase three times by 2020 with the implementation of the new strategy. "Saudi Arabia is now a better place for doing business as certified by the World Bank in 2008," the minister said.
Kamel said the global financial crisis had proved there was a moral crisis in business practices caused by the desire to make money by any means. He presented a 10-point program to change the world economic situation, a copy of which was given to Merkel and Alireza. He asked the chancellor to review the trade balance between the two countries, tilting in favor of Germany.
A number of businessmen who took part in the meeting called for expanding joint-investment projects. Abdullah Dahlan, a member of JCCI's board of directors, said he would sign an agreement with Germany for cooperation in education. Abdul Khaliq Saeed, another member, said his group had been depending on German technology for the last 25 years.
Merkel, who also urged Gulf states to increase pressure on Iran to rein in its nuclear program, had an open dialogue moderated by Khaled Al-Juffali, co-chairman of the Saudi-German Business Dialogue. Six Saudi businessmen and six of their German counterparts took part in the dialogue with Kamel giving a vote of thanks.
In the panel discussions that followed, Germany and Saudi business leaders discussed "Diversification and Investment in Saudi Arabia" and "Infrastructure: Mobility and energy." Dahlan, also president of Al-Minwal Trading & Investment Est., and Abdulaziz Sager, chairman and founder of the Gulf Research Center, moderated the two discussions. The chancellor proceeded to Doha later and will visit Bahrain on Thursday.
By K.S. RAMKUMAR & GALAL FAKKAR
© Arab News 2010
