Golden Jubilee of Bahrain & Germany

GOLDEN JUBILEE

Golden Jubilee of Bilateral Relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federal Republic of Germany.

17th May 1972 – 17th May 2022

Publisher and Chairman George F. Middleton Editor Farah Baig Contributors Kristian Harrison Editorial Consultant Ahdeya Ahmed Print Production Manager Sabu Sebastian Art Director Hatem Monem Webmaster Nishad Eapen CRM & Database Coordinator Muna Yousef Staff Photographer Subeesh Kumar N S Administration and Finance Samson Vaz, Marlyn Ragasa Distribution Team CM Abdul Rahman, Gopal Arul Kumar

GERMANY IN BAHRAIN CONTENTS

THE TEAM

Media Sales Director Anuradha Manhas anuradha@redhousemarketing.com

Bahrain and Germany are celebrating the 50th anniversary of its long-standing diplomatic partnership, with bilateral relations beginning on May 17, 1972.

German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, HE Kai Boeckmann, speaks about his diplomatic career and his plans to bolster ties between the two nations on the auspicious occasion.

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THE KINGDOM’S REPRESENTATIVE Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Federal Republic of Germany, HE Abdulla Abdullatif highlights the diplomatic relations

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DIGITAL & CONTENT MARKETING TEAM Digital Strategy Director Lini Reghunath Digital Marketing & Social Media Director Farah Baig Social Media Managers Simran Tiwari, Rohit Reghunath

A HISTORIC TIMELINE

Exploring the historic diplomatic ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federal Republic of Germany.

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THE SOCIAL FABRIC

German and Bahraini citizens who have helped bolster ties between the two countries share their reflections on the historic occassion.

We would like to thank the Diplomat Radisson Hotel in Bahrain and its senior management for providing facilities utilised for some of the filmed interviews in this documentary.

Gulf and international subscriptions available on request.

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May 2022 3

Germany in Bahrain

DIPLOMATIC JUBILATION

Bahrain and Germany are celebrating the 50th anniversary of its long-standing diplomatic partnership, with bilateral relations beginning on May 17, 1972. As part of our special supplement, we spoke to the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, HE Kai Boeckmann, about his diplomatic career and his plans to bolster ties between the two nations.

4 May 2022

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hank you for speaking to us Your Excellency. Could you give our readers a brief summary of your experience and background prior to coming to Bahrain?

I came to Bahrain after serving with the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 24 years. This is a typical career path in the ministry, where you gain experience in several postings. In my case, it was foreign postings in Jericho, Buenos Aires, Rome and Cairo. Of course, I had several stints in the ministry in Germany and gained experience in consular and press work, while also serving as deputy chief of mission. While I was in headquarters, I was repeatedly involved in reform projects, which may sound technical, but were a good preparation for the administrative tasks needed to lead a mission.

How do you compare life in Bahrain to your previous postings?

I was very curious to come to the Gulf after having served in other Arabic posts in Jericho and Cairo. I must say that I find life in Bahrain very, very special. The first thing that strikes you is that I don›t commute for hours like in mega cities, but I can reach all interlocutors, friends and partners mostly within minutes! This is something which characterises the life in Bahrain.

Our contacts with the Bahraini government are very close and direct, as they are with parliament and the business community.

Furthermore, the German community is very tightly knit and very supportive as we see when there are charity events. I had the privilege to host almost the entire German community and their families during www.bahrainthismonth.com

Germany in Bahrain occasions like the St Nicholas celebrations before Christmas in this residence garden, which would certainly not have been possible in other postings with a larger population.

On May 17, the Kingdom of Bahrain and Germany will be celebrating their Golden Jubilee anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. What are your own thoughts about this momentous occasion?

My thoughts go back to the late Amir, HRH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and Federal President, Gustav Heinemann, who established the beginning of our diplomatic relationship.

These were different times then, where Germany was divided in the aftermath of World War 2, and both Germany and Bahrain became members of the United Nations and helped shape the international community.

My thoughts also go to all those Bahraini and German citizens who helped to shape and bring into life our relationship in so many ways. I am grateful to all the ambassadors who preceded me and whose work I can now build upon in my daily work.

Finally, I am grateful to pioneers like Bahraini businessmen who discovered the potential of German products and the visionaries who established the DHL regional hub back in 1976.

What plans does the embassy have to celebrate this auspicious occasion in May? We hope to be able to profit from the remarkable success of Bahrain in combatting COVID-19, and to celebrate with a series of events together with our colleagues from the embassies both: here and in Berlin.

Instagram account and we are very happy that we can interact directly with our followers and receive their feedback. It is also a matter of transparency; we want to show our daily work and not be an embassy which hides behind high walls.

the Kingdom have four wheels! I see the potential in the future for further trade in this regard because German car manufacturers have great solutions for e-mobility and Bahrain with its small size represents the ideal place to realise the vision of carbon-free traffic.

Once the celebrations are over, what do you consider to be your primary focus to further bolster relations between the two countries?

I think that we can work together in the fields of climate action and energy transition.

Together, we have the capacity to reduce gas emissions. Germany needs to replace fossil fuels with alternative energies, especially hydrogen, and Bahrain as a classical producer of fossil fuels has the potential also to diversify and to make use of resources like solar energy and wind energy which are available in this region.

How many German citizens are currently residents in Bahrain? How has the number grown since the establishment of diplomatic relations?

We have around 500 German citizens currently living in Bahrain, and the number has been quite stable over the past years. It’s not a huge number, but it’s a very tight-knit and vibrant community and we feel that our German citizens here are the best ambassadors of Germany to Bahrain because they represent the variety and diversity of German society including university professors, doctors, engineers and technicians.

What is the current status of trade between Bahrain and Germany from volumes and projections? Can you identify specific areas of trade and collaboration that would increase in the near future?

We are very happy that despite the pandemic, trade between Germany and Bahrain is actually on the rise. Europe is Bahrain›s most important trading partner after Saudi Arabia and Germany represents a large part of the trade exchange between Europe and Bahrain. Speaking about the numbers in 2020, Bahraini exports to Germany amounted to BHD50m, about a third more than in 2019. German imports to Bahrain amounted to BHD203m which is again an increase of around 30 percent.

Of course, the most welcome German goods in

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to thank on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations both His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the people of Bahrain for all the support they have given over the past 50 years to our diplomatic relationship and to the relations between the Bahraini people and the German people in general.

What do you consider to be the most relevant and significant achievements of the embassy in Bahrain and German citizens over the past 50 years, and how has that contributed to the growth of bilateral relations between the two countries?

No doubt the high level visits of His Majesty King Hamad to Germany in 2008 and the visit of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Bahrain in 2010. We have had a number of successes and momentous events over the years, such as the embassy offering language courses to enable Bahrainis to learn German for study and work purposes and offering business round table networking.

Since your own arrival in Bahrain, what do you consider the most significant achievement so far?

One interesting step which we have done is to open up more to the general public, through our activity on social media. In 2018, we started a ‘Germany in Bahrain’ www.bahrainthismonth.com

May 2022 5

Germany in Bahrain

THE KINGDOM’S REPRESENTATIVE

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Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Federal Republic of Germany, HE Abdulla Abdullatif Al Shaikh Abdulla, highlights the diplomatic relations between the two countries in this conversation with George Middleton.

our excellency. You’ve had a distinguished career since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1981. Can you give us a brief summary about your diplomatic postings and missions so far?

In 1981, I was the Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A few years later, I went to Glasgow to continue my education and receive my master’s degree. Four years later, I had my first diplomatic post as the Deputy Head of Mission in London – a post which I held for almost five and a half years.

I was then appointed as a permanent representative to Geneva dealing with the multilateral issues and, of course, a nonresidential ambassador and permanent representative to Vienna as well. It was then that I’d spent five and a half years in London

6 May 2022

and almost four years in Geneva. This was followed by appointment as the Under Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from August, 2009 to almost October, 2017.

Finally, in February 2018, I went to Berlin as the Kingdom of Bahrain’s ambassador to Germany, where I have been since.

How do you find living in Germany and what would be your key observations about it?

To be honest, and to keep a long story short, starting with Berlin as a German city; I believe if you do not like Berlin, something is wrong with you, not the city and so you have to adjust yourself. It’s a beautiful city with a very rich heritage. I can say it’s ‘a kitchen of the world’ in the sense that you can find a lot of think tanks.

As a diplomat, it’s a very important post with a lot to cover. It’s one of the biggest economies

in Europe, and it has a lot of areas where we can have a good cooperation. In terms of diplomatic works, it’s not all concentrated in Berlin, you are dealing with 16 regional states which is very challenging.

What do you consider to be your most significant achievement so far in your posting in Germany?

Oh, there are plenty of achievements! Of these, the one that I would consider the most important is our success in increasing our trade between Bahrain and Germany. As I’d mentioned, Germany is one of the biggest European economies and so, we found a lot of areas for cooperation and have been very successful since I was there. In fact, despite the pandemic, we’ve always had an increase in our trade and exchange investment between Bahrain and Germany.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Germany in Bahrain For instance, last year we recorded an increase of six percent in our trade with Germany, which is very important as it is an achievement considering the pandemic. Prior to that, we would record even higher percentages, over 20 percent even.

Would you say that trade is your most important concern?

It’s not our most important concern. It is such a wonderful country and we enjoy a very friendly relationship. Politically, we have a very good understanding that we have been working together for, which has resulted in us celebrating 50 years of our diplomatic relation.

We never had challenges which were difficult to be solve in political and multilateral fields. I believe that there are areas in the economical field that we can improve. So, while trade is one of the most important things, that doesn’t mean that we don’t concentrate on other areas which we believe have better opportunities.

We can work together and increase the exchange of trade and have more investment from Germany towards Bahrain and open new areas of cooperation between our countries.

How many Bahraini expatriates live in Germany?

Usually, Bahrainis don’t go for economic reasons to live to Europe, but they go for other purposes like better education and aspects of the services sectors. So, the number is really very limited. I think we have around a hundred, the majority of them being students in different fields, but mainly in the medical field.

We also have some of our doctors who are practicing their experience in Germany. These doctors have also really contributed at certain German hospitals during COVID. They’ve really been recognised as people who contributed in the fight against COVID. We also have a small number of people who lived there due to some business, mainly in real estate.

What activities does the embassy of Bahrain in Germany undertake to promote corporation and unity between the two countries?

www.bahrainthismonth.com

We have a great political understanding with Germany, and found that visits between the two countries with high-level dignitaries to be successful as we found has new areas of cooperation.

Recently, our Minister of Foreign Affairs was in Berlin to attend the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue. Here, we found areas of cooperation which we have been working very hard for, especially moving towards the target of net zero carbon emissions for which the Kingdom of Bahrain has plans, with His Majesty King Hamad and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa projecting the year 2060 to be our target for zero emissions.

We hope to reduce these emissions by 35 percent by the year 2030 and are hence looking into alternative energy options.

Germany has a lot of areas of potential cooperation where this is concerned such green energy, hydrogen, water waste management, and renewable energy. These are very new areas for cooperation and we’ve had two workshops, in this regard, with stakeholders from Bahrain and Germany.

What image of Bahrain do you like to project through the embassy in Germany?

headquarters in Bahrain - something that everybody’s very proud of.

We are also extremely proud to support His Majesty’s King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, whose objective is to promote peaceful ideals worldwide, especially at times like these. Our project reflects the reality of life in Bahrain which is the perfect example of how people can live together despite any differences in race, religion or nationality.

What plans does the Bahrain embassy in Germany have to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations?

I’d like to first say that just as we have with our leadership, His Majesty King Hamad, and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the leadership of the president of Germany, FrankWalter Steinmeier, the new German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and Angela Merkel before him has given us the boost of working together and having a better cooperation.

We have already begun our celebrations which we shall continue until the end of the year. We are planning a kind of concert, a gathering with businessmen in Germany and articles to highlight these historic relations in the press.

We will also be producing memorabilia for the occasion. I am positive that the relations between Germany and Bahrain will continue for many years to come and look forward to our two countries. celebration of a Diamond Jubilee in the future.

Bahrain has always been known for its friendly business environment which we try to promote. For the last three or four years, the Kingdom has been ranked as one of the top five countries, which has been able to attract direct investment globally which is an important point to highlight.

People, not only in Germany, but Commenting on the diplomatic relations between the whole of Europe should know about this and why Bahrain is the two countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chief attractive to businesses. Bahrain of European Affairs, Ahmed Ebrahim Al Qarainees, has an advantage of skilled said: “These 50 years mark a very strong, lasting workers, advanced regulations, a and varied relationship with Germany. The great social life, environment and Kingdom of Bahrain has worked very closely with roads, and freedom of faith, which our friends in Germany and our ambassador who is why a lot of companies is leading the efforts with the guidance of His consider having their

Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister in a complete strategy which includes working with our friends to develop an understanding of global coexistence as well as peace and prosperity across the world.

Based on those ideas, they trickle down to particular policies and initiatives inside of Bahrain. We can work together with our German friends for education and of course the new global challenge of the environment. So, we look forward to continuing to achieve new milestones with our German friends.”

May 2022 7

Germany in Bahrain

A HISTORIC TIMELINE

Exploring the historic diplomatic ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federal Republic of Germany.

17.05.1972

Establishment of diplomatic relations between GERMANY and BAHRAIN 1977:

German foreign Minister HansDietrich Genscher visits Bahrain ..........................................................

22.03.1995:

24.05.2006

1983:

Germany’s Foreign Minister, Klaus Kinkel, visits the capital of Bahrain, Manama. ..........................................................

German Foreign Minister, Walter Steinmeier, visits Bahrain. ..........................................................

8.11.1986

Bahrain opens its embassy in Bonn, Germany. ..........................................................

German President, Horst Koehler, receives the King of Bahrain, HRH King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. ..........................................................

1987:

The German-Bahraini Friendship Society was founded in Manama. ..........................................................

HRH King Hamad meets with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. ..........................................................

Germany is a permanent guest and attendee at the Manama Dialogue. ..........................................................

German-Bahraini round table takes place every year. ..........................................................

27.10.2008

Minister of State at Foreign Office Jürgen Möllemann visits Bahrain ..........................................................

1995

Germany opens its first Embassy in Manama. ..........................................................

2000

28.10.2008

2004-2021

2009

First flight by Germany’s flag carrier and the country›s largest airline, Lufthansa, to Bahrain ..........................................................

1988:

First flight by Bahrain’s flag carrier and airline, Gulf Air flight, from Bahrain to Frankfurt ..........................................................

8.05.1991

German Defence Minister, Gerhard Stoltenberg, visits the German demining association in Bahrain ..........................................................

8 May 2022

13.02.2005

German Interior Minister, Otto Schily, visits Bahrain. ..........................................................

02.03.2005

German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, visits Bahrain ..........................................................

27.05.2010

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, visits Bahrain. ..........................................................

28.11.2011

Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, meets with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, in Berlin. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Germany in Bahrain

2012

Members of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Shura Council visit the Federal Republic of Germany. .......................................................................

24.03.2014

German parliamentary delegation led by Bundestag Vice-President, Claudia Roth. .......................................................................

2014 – 2019 German

business delegation for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen organises German Breakfast and Catalog Show in Bahrain. .......................................................................

30.10.2015

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa received at the Gudaibiya Palace, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, on the occasion of her participation in the IISS Manama Dialogue 2015. The German Defence Minister and her accompanying delegation were also received by her Bahraini counterpart, Defence Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Lieutenant General Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Jalahma.

21.10.2014

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier greets Bahrain‘s Foreign Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa in Berlin.

9.12.2016

German Defence Minister, Ursula von der Leyen, and her accompanying delegation revisit the Kingdom of Bahrain to participate in the 12th edition of Manama Dialogue.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

May 2022 9

Germany in Bahrain

05. 09. 2018

The German Embassy held a joint concert of The Public Security Band of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Bahrain and The German Air Force Band.

14.03.2019

The Great Masters: Arcis Saxophon Quartett comprised of four young musicians from Munich – Claus Hierluksch (soprano saxophone), Ricarda Fuss (alto saxophone), Edoardo Zotti (tenor saxophone) and Jure Knez (baritone saxophone), performed at Bahrain›s Cultural Hall.

11.08.2021

German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, meets the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani in Berlin where they held a joint press conference following formal discussions, in the presence of delegations from the two countries.

10 May 2022

29.03.2022

German Foreign Minister, Annalena Bearbock, meets the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani in Berlin on the sidelines of the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue Conference.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Germany in Bahrain

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT GERMAN-BAHRAINI RELATIONS

Trade between Bahrain and Germany, and specific areas of trade: Germany is Bahrain’s third most important business partner in the European Union. Germany’s positive image in the country is largely founded on its highly competitive industrial and technology sectors. On the German side, small and mediumsized companies in particular are taking advantage of the good investment climate in Bahrain. At present, around 30 German companies have offices in Bahrain or are engaged in projects in the country.

EUR 97.1 million Euro (2019) German import goods by SITC (percentage of total imports) 2020 Non-ferrous metals 84.7; other vehicles 4.7; raw materials (without fuel) 3.4; textiles/ clothing 1.5; Chem. ore 1.4; metal goods 0.7; Building materials/ glass/ceramics 0.7; measurement/ control tech. 0.4; petrochemicals 0.3; Shoes 0.3; Other 1.9

German Export to Bahrain: EUR506. 2 million (2020) EUR379.2 million (2019)

Agreements with Germany • Investment Protection Agreement since May 27, 2010 • Agreement on Air Transport since June 18, 1991 • Agreement on October 2, 2000 amending and supplementing the Agreement of June 18, 1991 on air transport

German Import from Bahrain 2020: EUR124.9 million (2020)

Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community

www.bahrainthismonth.com

& GCC countries in 1988. German residents in Bahrain According to the foreign office, there are 500 Germans in Bahrain. Most popular courses among Bahrainis in Germany Medical and technical subjects Germany is Bahrain’s most important partner in the European Union. 10, 000 German tourists visited Bahrain in 2018. In 2018, the German Embassy issued more than 6000 tourist visas and more than 2000 business visas for Bahrain. At present, around 30 German companies have offices in Bahrain or are engaged in projects in the country. There are approximately 500 German nationals living in Bahrain.

May 2022 11

Germany in Bahrain

THE

SOCIAL FABRIC

On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of diplomatic relations between Germany and Bahrain, we speak to German and Bahraini citizens who have helped bolster these ties.

Abduljalil Al Ansari – Founder of the Bahraini-German Friendship Society and the first Bahraini to receive the German Medal of Merit – First Class.

“My relationship with Germany began with my first trip to Cologne in 1965, where I attended an international exhibition where my personal and business relationships started.

I think it’s very important for people to understand culture, from any visitors from Bahrain to Germany or vice-versa, whether it’s music, people, sights or more. As for commercial interest, I believe that German business relationships are important to us because not only are their goods and services reliable, but they are of exceptional quality.

I am very proud to see the relationship which I believe I started in the 1960s when there were no diplomatic relations or embassies. It was up to me, my friends and colleagues to inform people about Germany, and I asked Bahrain and Saudi Arabian authorities to import products from there.”

Ali Khonji – A member of one of the oldest merchant business families in Bahrain, which started in 1898.

“Our company was honoured to build the new German Embassy chancellery building which was handed over in 2011 and inaugurated by then-Ambassador, His Excellency Hubert Lang. We are extremely proud to have offered our services to the German government and we hope to continue this for years to come.

I love to spend time in the south of Germany in the Black Forest area, since one of my favourite hobbies is walking. It’s one of my favourite holiday destinations.

I believe there needs to be an International German School in Bahrain, which will boost the economic, cultural and educational relationship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Germany in future.”

Birgit Hobaugh and Mohamed Alsharqi – Bahraini German International Services Birgit: “I came here more than 20 years ago, when it was a totally different world than it is today! I was made extremely welcome since my first day and it has felt like home. I still tell everybody who will listen how lovely a place it is.

Mohammed and I opened up a company offering many services, in areas including travel and medical, between Bahrain and Germany. We have a lot of tourists coming to Bahrain, and I have found that as an official tour guide, Germans love Bahrain as I do! It’s great to show them all the important sites and history that we have, it’s real and traditional, which I don’t think is found as much in other Arab countries.”

Mohamed: “When I invited Birgit to Bahrain for the first time, I was delighted that she loved the country and decided to stay. She has really adapted to the culture and gone deep into the Bahraini life, even though she couldn’t speak the language at first.

I’m particularly interested in motorsports so I am proud to be the first Bahraini to start an official travel agency for motorsports between the two countries, offering up to seven tours a year for motorcyclists from Bahrain and the GCC. 12 May 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Germany in Bahrain Uwe Torsten - RCSI Bahrain Professor and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Prior to moving to Bahrain, I’d worked in Berlin for 24 years. The first time I visited was in 2019 when I worked as a part time consultant at The King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH). However, being an academic, I applied to RCSI. I believe Germany has a great reputation in Arab countries, and so I could proceed from where I left off in Berlin.

There are a lot of healthcare manufacturers in Germany, especially in the south of the country. When in the operating theatre in Bahrain, I realised that we have a lot of German equipment from brands such as Siemens and Ecolab which are of a very high-standard and appreciated here in Bahrain.

I’m interested in archaeology and geological issues so when I arrived here, I immediately looked into the 5000-year-old history of Bahrain and the Dilmun culture and was very interested when I made a comparision to what was in Europe, Egypt and elsewhere. It’s astonishing.”

Nabeel Ajoor – Bahraini businessman and Member of Bahrain-German Business Society “We have a family business which deals in textiles, furniture and property. We have a very old connection with Germany, starting with my father who had gone to Frankfurt following the war to get his eyes operated on. Since then, we would visit Germany often, which I have driven around extensively exploring Hannover, Hamburg and Stuttgart.

Germany has always been associated with quality in Bahrain, with my mother trusting their products too. We had imported very special curtains for the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital from Hamburg, aside from technical products and fabric for our furnishings business.

I have released two books, including one which highlights the heritage of Bahrain and inspires nostalgia. German people have always been friendly so I often host members of the German community at my house so they may experience the Bahraini culture.”

Professor Dr. Bernd Hoefer - Chairman & CEO of A9C Capital WLL “I’m a German businessman who has been based in Bahrain for over 15 years.

For the first two years I worked for a very senior member of the Royal family following which I set up my company. In 2020, I co-founded a technology spin-off of the German Aerospace Centre in Germany. I am also the Chairman of the German Business Roundtable Bahrain.

I have a scientific background, but am an economist having worked all my career at the interface between economy and technology. I’ve worked closely together with literally each and every space agency including NASA, JAXA, ISRO, ROSCOMOS and the European Space Agency.

I believe that Bahrain and Germany have the potential to collaborate in the formation of technology-led industry in the Kingdom. I also don’t see any reason why Bahrain shouldn’t strive to become an automative manufacturing country, notably for electric cars. Bahrain has aluminium, top-notch logistics facilities, connectivity to the entire world, FTAs in place and other ingredients for great success.” www.bahrainthismonth.com

Ingo Giesel - Director of Operations, Shelf Drilling (Global SantaFe Services - LLC) “I work in KSA for a drilling contractor company that supplies drilling rigs for major oil companies. My wife and I have lived in seven different countries – Indonesia, Vietnam, Norway, The Netherlands, Scotland, the UAE and Egypt.

After living in Egypt for three years, we moved to Bahrain where we have now lived for the last 11 years. Bahrain also has an advantage of having a great variety of restaurants which my wife and I dine at to enjoy some good food.

Considering that we’ve lived in so many other countries, we really enjoy living in Bahrain as it is safe and there’s plenty to enjoy. I also enjoy working in a cultural environment, as presented by the region, and I believe everyone should have this experience.

When thinking of German brands, one of the most important one that’s comes to my mind is DHL since it is a major logistics provider and logistics in the current market is a problem because of ongoing issues. The other one would be Lufthansa which is the official carrier and keeps a connection between the people in Bahrain and Germany. Others that come to mind are Porsche, Mercedes and BMW.”

May 2022 13

Germany in Bahrain

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME Established in 1976, the Bahrain-based company Universal Electro-Engineering (UNEECO) has long had a strong relationship with German products and services to meet the diverse and changing needs of the region’s electrical and electronics engineering sectors. We spoke to UNEECO COO, Jayashankar Viswanathan, to find out more.

U

NEECO’s story is certainly an inspiring one. The company established its first assembly plant in Salmabad, later moved to Mina Salman Industrial Area where it operated for nearly 15 years, before finally settling in its state-of-the-art facility in BIIP at Bahrain’s Al Hidd Industrial Area.

It positions itself as a leading manufacturer of low-voltage switchgear products in the Kingdom. The company markets various high-voltage equipment such as vacuum switchgear, ring main units and transformers which are manufactured by well-known companies globally.

Of these worldwide entities which supply its products, it has a particular affinity for those made in Germany.

Mr. Viswanathan explains: “Germany is one of the finest engineering countries in the world historically, so we know we will always get quality from there.

“Robust, strong and reliable are key elements which come to mind when thinking about their products, with shelf lives often surpassing any other, and their services are very good.”

Originally from India, Mr. Viswanathan has a storied career in the engineering industry. His journey with UNEECO began as a manager in 2005 and since then, he has progressed to becoming a board member and director alongside his operational duties. His ongoing relationship with German brands has been one of the highlights of his tenure.

Notably, UNEECO was heavily involved in the construction of the Kraft Foods plant in the Kingdom and used entirely German products in the manufacture, knowing that they would stand the test of time.

“German brands account for 10 percent of our entire business revenue, some USD4 million” he explains. “It started in 1979 with Raychem, now part of TE Connectivity, and now includes Exide industrial batteries and Stulz energy-efficient temperature and humidity management technology.

“We love working with our German partners because we learn so much from them. There really is a noticeable quality with their products that you just don’t get from other places.”

14 May 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

LEADING AUTOMOBILES

Germany in Bahrain

Since starting out in 1998 with only BMW under its umbrella, Euro Motors has set out to position itself as the leader in the automotive industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain and has since come a long way with premium brands such as Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Maserati. David McGoldrick, General Manager of Euro Motors tells us why the dealership still has a special relationship with the German marque which started it all.

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hen asked to name the principal goal of Euro Motors, David McGoldrick responds: “To be recognised as the most professional automotive retailer in the Kingdom of Bahrain by our customers, employees, shareholders and business partners and to be the customer›s first choice when buying any premium European brands in line with the company mission ‘Best Vehicles … Best Dealerships’.

“Euro Motors does not compromise on presentation, quality, technical service and customer care. We are fully committed to the principle of offering the utmost to our customers, the drive to improve profitability is always conditioned to match promise with performance because every Euro Motors customer is valued.”

Despite the plethora of premium brands under its wing, Euro Motors has always treasured its relationship with BMW as the inaugural www.bahrainthismonth.com

European brand when the dealership first launched. In the previous five years, Euro Motors has invested significantly in its infrastructure and training of staff to ensure the BMW Group brands are represented in line with the International Importer Standards.

Mr McGoldrick explains: “I first became involved with the brand in 1985, and it has been a passion of mine ever since. The brand has it all: Heritage, Design, Technology Performance and Consistency.

A BMW is a car for everyone, and I think these are key elements which define a German brand and its DNA. “Since the inception of Euro Motors, we have been implementing various initiatives in keeping with the strategy’s four pillars: Growth, Shaping the Future, Profitability and Access to Technologies and Customers. Our activities will remain firmly focused on the premium segments of the international automobile

markets. Our mission statement is clearly defined: the BMW Group is the world’s leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility, both with cars and motorbikes.”

As the automotive industry shifts towards a greener future, Euro Motors and BMW are collaborating to ensure they are ready for the change and to make information and options easily accessible to potential customers in the Kingdom.

“We are working together to bring the BMW range of electric vehicles to the Kingdom. This requires investment in infrastructure and collaborations with the government as part of a sustainable motoring strategy, and we believe we have just the right tools to make this process as smooth and simple as possible,” he said.

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Germany in Bahrain

BUILT TO LAST

The Khalaifat Company was established in 1968, making a name for itself selling global kitchen and home brands that are rooted in adding value to homes, hotels, restaurants and other interiors in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Of course, a plethora of German makes are part of their catalogue, so we spoke to Managing Director, Qussay Khalaifat, about their relationship.

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bystander

ver the last 54 years and counting, Khalaifat has offered a wide range of products created by German manufacturers, starting with Bosch in 1975 and continuing to present day with Nolte, Gaggenau, Poggenpohl, Hama and more.

Mr. Khalaifat says: “The German brands have maintained their quality and reliability throughout the years. It has never dipped, and in fact always strives to improve, which is hugely important to both us and our customers. Our German suppliers have provided us with the best services and support to align with the quality of the products expected by the Bahraini market.

Amongst its outlets, Khalaifat has an exclusive showroom in Tubli and a Bosch flagship store in Enma Mall, Riffa.

Furthermore, its product ranges are available in major retailers such as Sharaf DG, Carrefour and Extra.

He continues: “Our aim is to continue our strong relationship with these brands and add more partners in the coming future.

We are glad to be linked with such reliable quality in terms of product and support.

German brands have made our reputation high along these years.

“They offer technological innovations which really bring the future to the present. Check out Bosch’s Home Connect for example. Designed for the modern household, you can use your smart devices to control, monitor and maintain your appliances remotely.

“As life gets busier, we rely on our household appliances to operate more efficiently and in complete harmony. Busy schedule? Start your washing from the office and come home with laundry ready to dry. Early start? Wake up your coffee machine from your bedroom as the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee lures you out of bed.

“Home Connect turns everyday routines and household chores into a seamless experience, and this is just one of a multitude of ways that German technology and products is improving our lives.”

Celebrating Shared Success

Almoayyed Computers Middle East (ACME), together with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the global edge-to-cloud company, hosted their first customer event recently in Bahrain. Held under the patronage of Information & eGoverment Authority Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali AlQaed, the event witnessed participation from leading industry experts and businesses in Bahrain and senior managemen tteams from ACME and HPE.

16 May 2022

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Germany in Bahrain

THE MOSER 1400 ALWAYS THE ORIGINAL

Proudly ‘Made in Germany’, MOSER is part of a legacy of excellence, through every innovation, across every decade of consistent growth, MOSER has stayed true to its commitment to precision. Every product comes with the assurance of efficiency, sharpness, quality and performance – values that have always put Germany in the global spotlight.

As a market leader in the grooming industry, MOSER manufactures some of the most widely used clippers and trimmers globally. These include the famous MOSER 1400 clipper, which has sold over 50 million times since its debut in 1962.

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The MOSER 1400 The MOSER 1400 continues as the undefeated tool of choice among customers.

Its growth can be credited to an unrelenting focus on delivering impeccable quality.

MOSER’s ambition has fueled its growth across over 165 countries and made it an integral part of Wahl Clipper Corporation’s ambitious international growth plan.

There is no clipper like the MOSER 1400. It is nothing short of a legend, a cult favourite among professionals. Its iconic silhouette has garnered such unwavering loyalty among customers that home users buy it and take it along to their barbers – they genuinely believe only a MOSER 1400 can do the job for them!

Made in Germany, the MOSER 1400 features a solid, precision-ground, high-grade steel blade set. Its silent functioning hides the

powerful working of an oscillating armature motor that has been enhanced over the years to improve its performance by 50 percent as compared to the initial version.

Only a stellar product like the 1400 is consistently in demand over decades, with over 50 million units sold globally as of 2021.

Professionals covet the striking design, extraordinary performance and inimitable precision of the 1400. Outside, though it has remained nearly unchanged for almost 50 years now, the technology powering each version is more powerful than the last. Every product is manufactured with rigorous quality and performance checks – anyone who owns a MOSER can be assured that they own a high-performing, robust clipper that will last for years together.

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Germany in Bahrain

CENTERING IN ON CUSTOMER-CENTRICITY

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n a world of globalisation, digitisation, fierce competition, and most recently, a pandemic of epic disruption, customer-centricity has taken prime spot on business agendas. Just about all companies have come to realise how critical it is to shift to a more customer-centric approach as a means of differentiation and to build competitive advantage.

Today, with a plethora of knowledge available at the touch of a button, and endless options at one’s fingertips, customercentricity dictates brand loyalty and profit margins. But how do you go about creating a truly customer-centric business? You need to start with the customer first.

The driving force is to make it your mission to help your customers reach their business goals.

This means thinking less about how much you are selling and more on how a product or service helps customers thrive in their businesses. You focus on what your customers want to achieve and you evolve your organisation around their needs, becoming an integral, and indispensable ally to their growth journey. It requires a complete change in mind-

18 May 2022

By DHL Express MENA set away from operational to placing the customer at the heart of the process and developing outwards from there.

The most important component of this equation is to align and motivate all teams to have the customer’s success as their highest priority. Every single person working in a customer-centric organisation should be made to feel that they have an important role to play in this process. This comes down to culture and training; both of which are equally important to cultivate a customer-first mindset and inspire people to take on the responsibility of exceeding customer expectations.

Commitment from the top is also important and goes beyond simply discussing customer matters in the boardroom. Senior management have to be just as involved in driving customer success as any frontline employee. They are responsible for building that culture and driving that momentum internally, while setting an example for all teams to follow.

Today, customers demand tailored solutions and constant innovation. This is not an easy

task and requires continuous client discussions, agility, flexibility and monitoring of trends. It also requires organisations to allow their customers to be part of the innovation journey.

Lastly, capturing customer feedback and converting this into tangible improvements is paramount. Customer surveys are very common across businesses. But while they are valuable tools, they also represent a very impersonal way of capturing feedback via a static questionnaire. Customer-centric companies go one step further: they engage in frequent direct dialogue, facilitating the exchange of ideas and views because they know that sharing insights and knowledge leads to natural improvements.

Customer centricity requires a fundamental shift in the way a company thinks and operates; but it needs to be approached as an ever-evolving journey and not an end destination, and companies need to be vested in taking this route which is no longer an option but has become a necessity for business survival.

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