No.2, June 2004


Responsible Editor: Mrs Renate HUSSEINI, member of the board.

For all questions and information requests, please contact our Coordinator:

Mrs. Najwa Malik, najwa-sgbg@eajb.com.sa
Tel. 667 2222 ext. 1119

Editorial

Dear member of SGBG,

As the holiday season is approaching very fast, and our planned trip to Abha had to be cancelled because of the security situation in the country (see details below), I am actually unable to announce lots of future cultural or social events to look forward to. But even if our "physical" events calendar is somehow on stand by for the moment, I still have an important "virtual " event to announce: We are working very hard on the SGBG's Website and we hope to go online very soon with a first version of our pages. When the Website is ready and goes online, you will receive an e-mail with the URL address, so you will be able to link to SGBG from everywhere in the world.

We wish all of you a happy holiday and a pleasant summer, and hope to see you again in September.
Your SGBG team.



Future Events

Computer course for ladies : May/June 2004
Unfortunately up to now the response to this very interesting offer was disappointing, two or three ladies only have answered positively and have actually begun the course.

It seems that either most of our member ladies are computer experts and do not need such a course, (but in this case, how it comes that quite a lot of them do not have or not use any e-mail ?) or that a sort of reluctance regarding the use of this modern technology prevents them from responding positively to our offer. By means of this letter we would like once more to encourage every member lady who might need some help for getting familiar with the e-mail and the Internet to profit from this unique occasion for acquiring the necessary skills. Do not hesitate, it is big fun to learn this!

Please contact our Coordinator, Najwa Malik , for detailed information about the course.

Saudi -German week in Abha : 15-17.06 2004

Latest developments: Due to the difficult security situation in the Kingdom, the responsible organizers had to take the decision to postpone the German Week in Abha. It will probably be rescheduled for October or November 2004.

The previously announced Abha event was actually in its final stage of preparation and promised to be a major attraction as well for our members as also for the personalities of this southern city of Saudi-Arabia. An impressive number of German companies represented in the Kingdom intended to participate in the planned exhibition. The "German week" was to start with the exhibition opening followed by a dinner reception on Tuesday 15th of June. During the two following days our members who decided to participate in this event were to be entertained by a very interesting sightseeing program in Abha and its surroundings.

We sincerely hope that the security situation will return to normal very soon and that we will all be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the nice climate in Abha in the very near future.

Highlights of the Past

Visit to the Japanese Automobile Vocational Center

On 23rd of May a group of about 20 members of SGBG enjoyed a very interesting visit to the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI). The center is located on the Makkah Highway and consists mainly of three buildings : the administrative building with classrooms, computer labs, restaurant, recreational center, library and offices for the staff, a 300 bedrooms dormitory building and two identical huge halls for the technical training of the students on real cars of different types and makings. Co-founders and fund providers for the Institute are the Saudi and Japanese Government, JAMA (Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Ass.), and JADIK (JapaneseAutomobile Distributors in the Kingdom). The curriculum is set for a two years training, with stress on English as a technical language to enable students to read and understand - of course - the technical manuals. The first batch of about 200 students will graduate in August 2004; their job is guaranteed, actually they will work for several years in the same workshop where they did their on -the-job training periods during their education in the Institute.

Besides the technical training there is a general curriculum, designed to develop the personality of the trainees in a way that will set them well-equipped with the ethics of professionalism.

Our group including representatives of German car companies such as Mercedes Benz, BMW and VW enjoyed a complete guided tour of the facilities and a lot of interesting discussions with the Deputy Director and the professor for Character Building and Work Ethics and we went home admiring the good organization and this really very efficient means of integrating young Saudis usually of not very well-to-do families into the working life.

Members' Corner: membership card and discounts

Good news:
Your membership cards are ready and have begun to be distributed to the attendants of the last social gathering on the 20th of April.
But be aware, that we must receive your membership fee payment prior to the establishment of your membership card. If you were not able to attend the last meeting, you might claim your membership card from our Coordinator, Mrs. Najwa Malik.

Discounts:
Several companies/shops/restaurants have agreed to offer substantial discount to our members :

	National Company or gifts and Sweetfs, shop "Le Bonheur", Prince Abdullah Street, Jeddah . 25 % on porcelaine, crystal, silverware.... 10 % on chocolates and sweets
	Lufthansa 10 % on Business Class and 5% on Economy Class flights
	Saudi Business Forms, Industrial City Phase 3 Street, No 401 10 % on all printing jobs
	Jeddah Marriott Hotel Special Corporate Rates 2004; Special meeting packages
	Erfan & Bagedo Hospitals Substantial discounts (50% and 25%) on all medical examens, surgeries etc. Please ask our Coordinator, Mrs. Najwa Malik for details.

Saudi German Business News



German Language Center

The German Language Center offers German language courses for everybody. It has classrooms at the Juffali Training Center, Bawadi District and at the German Consulate, Al Hamra District.

The German Language Center evolved from the traditional German language courses offered by the German diplomatic missions all over the world. (“Botschaftssprachkurse”) It is sponsored by the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Saudi German Business Group.

The German Language Center promotes the German language and acquaints the students with the German culture. It offers a chance for high school and university graduates to continue their education in Germany. Businessmen can obtain a basic knowledge for further education in Germany. It is also a place for those interested in brushing up their language skills.

All language courses of the German Language Center follow the syllabus of the Goethe Institute, Cairo.

Coordinator:
Mrs S.Buchner-Cross
E-mail: sgbg_s_b_c@yahoo.de
Phone: 691 0828 Ext: 1902
Consultation Hours: Sat – Mon 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Assistant:
Mrs. Kamuran
E-mail: sgbg_kamuran@yahoo.ie
Phone: 691 0828 Ext: 4317
Consultation Hours: Tue – Wed 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.



Miscellaneous: Found on the Internet

Frankfurter Buchmesse 2004 : Ehrengast Arabische Welt (Frankfurt International Book Fair 2004 : Guest of honour : the Arabic World)

The Worlds biggest and most famous Book Fair has decided this year to invite the "Arabic World" (whatever that means) as a guest of honour. 22 members of the League of Arab States will present themselves with a diverse literary and cultural programme. For more information:

http://www.buchmesse.de/en/index.php?content=/en/buchmesse_frankfurt/news/07754/content.html

Qantara.de : Dialogue with the islamic world

The Arabic word "qantara" means "bridge". The Internet portal Qantara.de represents the concerted effort of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Federal Center for Political Education), Deutsche Welle, the Goethe Institut and the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute for Foreign Relations) to promote dialogue with the Islamic world. The project is funded by the German Foreign Office. You can subscribe to the monthly Newsletter from Qantara's homepage.