GERMAN INDUSTRY DAY IN ABU DHABI ATTRACTS GERMAN SMES IN LIGHT AND HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Following its successful participation in Hannover Messe 2013, the world’s largest industrial trade fair, Kizad industrial zone, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), is continuing to build on its links with German business. Kizad is supporting the fifth annual edition of German Industry Day taking place today, at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel, Abu Dhabi.
With the event held under the patronage of H.E. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, the UAE Minister of Economy (MoE), opening remarks were made by H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Fan, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs, MoE. H.E. Mohamed Helal Al Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Arno Fuchs, CEO of FCF Corporate Finance GmbH (event organisers), and Mr. Khaled Salmeen, CEO and Managing Director of Kizad, the event’s strategic sponsor, all gave opening addresses.
The annual forum provides an effective and valuable platform enabling cross-border business activities, knowledge-share and technology transfer, the opportunity to explore investment opportunities, and expand the network of top-tier professionals in both countries.
Khaled Salmeen, CEO and Managing Director, Kizad, talked about recent examples of German companies’ commitment to Kizad with the multi-million dollar investments from two of Germany’s biggest industrialists – KSB and Bauer International. He also highlighted the key areas that make Kizad industrial zone an exciting prospect for German businesses looking for investment opportunities in the region.
“One of biggest infrastructural undertakings ever conducted in Abu Dhabi, the Khalifa Port and the Kizad industrial zone megaproject was designed to offer clear competitive advantages for businesses, specifically: production efficiencies; lower operational costs; and access to an excellent intermodal transportation infrastructure,” said Salmeen.
He also outlined the dedicated “vertically integrated clusters” at Kizad which include specific clusters for: aluminium; steel; glass; pharmaceuticals and healthcare; food; paper, print and packaging; trade and logistics; and mixed use industries.
This year’s GID 2013 forum includes two top-level panel discussions with leading industrialists and economists. The first is related to sustainable energy; the second will discuss how both public and private sectors can help facilitate greater cross-border collaboration and incentivize investors and create more attractive investment opportunities.
A series of other presentations, from leading German industrial companies, will be held throughout the day, including: Manz AG; Singlulus Technologies; Cotesa GmbH; Konrad Hornschuch AG; Flensburger Schiffsbau GmbH & Co. KG; Torqeedo GmbH; Microdyn-Nadir GmbH; and Stulz H+E GmbH.
FCF Fox Corporate Finance GmbH, CEO, Arno Fuchs, suggested that that this year’s event is set be the biggest yet, adding:
“With a growing demand in the region, for construction and engineering projects, we are noticing a corresponding level of interest in Abu Dhabi from large and small-sized industrial-focused companies. It is no real surprise then that Europe’s leading industrialised economy [Germany] would have a number of companies interested in Abu Dhabi’s location, stable environment and overall growth – all key factors that FCF Fox Corporate Finance look for as the backdrop to potential support for investors.”
German Industry Day 2013 is run by FCF Fox Corporate Finance GmbH, an independent investment bank with financial specialisation in small to mid-sized businesses, and supported by Kizad, Deutsche Bourse and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce.