No.4, October 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 SGBGJ,

Due to some computer problems this issue of your favourite Newsletter arrives a little later than initially intended to,  but we hope that this delay has sharpened your keenness to read it and we would like to have some feedback from our readers about its contents.
Positive and of course critical comments on the informative content as well as on the subdivision into different headings would be most welcome. Please click on the above mentioned name of Renate Husseini to send your comments as an email to the editor.

Great news:
We are very glad to inform you that the SGBGJ Website has gone online  since the beginning of October 2004 under the URL
http://www.sgbg.org.sa

Our graphic designer has done a great job, and we hope that you will enjoy a look at this website. Even if it contains for the moment essentially basic information about SGBGJ, membership, events etc., it is being enriched continually and especially the page "useful links" might be of help to anybody planning to do business with Germany / resp. Saudi Arabia.
 

Future Events

Red Sea Symposium :  04/05 december 2004
Two-days' symposium to raise the awareness for the endangered marine environment of the Red Sea in cooperation with PERSGA in Saudi Arabia (Natural Resources and Protected Area Unit).There will be an opening evening session in the premises of the Consul General of Germany. A boat trip is envisaged for interested participants. We will invite eminent scientists who work in this field. We will invite other personalities who care about the marine environment of the Red Sea. An invitation will be extended in due time.

Week-end desert trips in cooperation with the Saudi Geological Survey : winter 2004/2005
A variety of weekend trips to discover the geological wonders of Saudi Arabia will be planned in cooperation with the Saudi Geological Survey in Jeddah. The formula will be as follows: Participants have to dispose of a four wheel vehicle and all the equipment to pass two days including one night in the desert. Saudi Geological Survey will provide a guide and will take care of  the necessary permissions. Small walking tours on-site are envisaged. The following trips are envisaged, other trips might be added:
- Matan and Al Malsa Crater, earth crack at Al Hurrah , all near Madina
- Volcanic crater al Al Kahalb on the Taif-Riyadh Road
- Visit to some valleys in Allieth Region to the South of Jeddah
- Visit to the sand dunes in Bahra region to the south of Jeddah
The first such trip is planned for the 25/26th of November

2004 Saudi -German week in Abha
reminder : In the Newsletter N°2 (June 2004) you could read the following:
"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."

In fact the board of SGBGJ has decided to re-launch the Abha event during the winter 2004/2005. The exact time slot is not yet defined but you will be informed about the preparations in due time.
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. 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, as the security situation has returned to normal, 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 Soleil d'Or SPA : 12.10.2004

Our ladies group enjoyed a commented visit and a nice reception by the head of the facility which offers all beauty services from top to toe of your body, taking even care of your mental stress situation by relaxation technics, massages and baths.

SGBGJ Iftar at Bilad Hotel : 24.10.2004
A very enjoyable evening for all participants in the big Sultan Hall at Bilad Hotel. A great number of our members and several specially invited guests were delighted to meet around a lavish Iftar buffet served outside the Hall in the garden. The true spirit of Ramadan of friendship and cordiality was present during this event. Many thanks to our coordinator, Najwa Malik who organised this function for the pleasure of everyone present.

Members' Corner: membership card and discounts

Reminder : The below mentioned discount offers are strictly limited to SGBGJ members, holders of a valid membership card.

Our coordinator has recently succeeded in securing very interesting offers from two prestigious places in Jeddah:

Mövenpick Resort Al Nawras Jeddah
Special Corporate rate offer for members of SGBGJ. The offer extends for the moment to the end of the year 2004. The resort consists of 35 Two Bedroom Suites and 56 One Bedroom Suites, luxuriously equipped with a private swimming pool. These facilities might be rented for the week or only a weekend. Several restaurants overlooking the Red Sea complete the offer. For all details, please refer to our Coordinator, Mrs. Najwa Malik

Al Bilad Hotel (Golden Tulip)
One of the most popular hotels in Jeddah, Al Bilad is offering SGBGJ members very substantial discount rates (about 40%) for rooms with or without breakfast. This offer runs up to the end of 2005. Please ask our Coordinator, Mrs. Najwa Malik, for detailed information.

Linked to our planned visit to the facility:
Eed Clinic for Plastic Surgery (near Erfan & Bagedo Hospital)
This very well renowned clinic offers one free consultation and 50% discount on all services including operations. Our contact is Dr. Mamdouh A. Aziz Ashy, who will give us a lecture on 10th of October and guide us through the visit of the clinic. (For appointments and information please call : 639 88 58 62).

Soleil d'Or SPA
15% on all services for SGBGJ lady members. Contact : Mrs. Fatin Salah, General Manager. Tel. +966 2 283 22 33, Fax .+966 2 284 07 30;   
mobile  +966-50-5348015, e-mail  sibiedist@awalnet.net.sa


Discounts by different units of Juffali Group :

Juffali Automotive Company (JACO), Mercedes Benz :
Vehicles 6% discount, excluding periodical special offers; Spare parts and service : 10% discount

Juffali Auto Parts Company (JAPCO) :
 20 % Discount on all purchases throughout the Kingdom

JAHACO (Air conditioning, refrigeration, home appliances etc.) :
Special discount for SGBGJ members, the discount rate varies from 14.5% up to 25%, depending on the purchased product. Jeddah Showroom on Madina Road Kilo 7, contact person in the showroom : Mr. Mohammed Abdul Fattah (Tel. 669 38 81). For any enquiry or clarification about products, SGBGJ members might contact the Marketing Manager Mr. Sharif al-Nahas on 667 22 22, ext. 1252 or mobile 050 463 42 95.

For a reminder:
Several companies/shops/restaurants have agreed to offer substantial discount to our members :

	National Company or gifts and Sweets, 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 from the age of 16.
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 is placed under the auspices of the Saudi German Business Group. 
The German Language Center promotes the German language and acquaints the students with the German culture. The center offers a chance for high school and university graduates to continue their education in Germany.  Businessmen can obtain a basic knowledge for further training in Germany.  It is also a place for those interested in brushing up their language skills.
All courses of the German Language Center follow the syllabus of the Goethe Institute, Cairo. It offers courses leading to the elementary certificates of German as a Foreign Language (Deutsch Start1; Deutsch Start2).  Our teachers are German native speakers. They take a personal interest in your individual learning needs.  We teach German for everyday use and focus on real communication.
 
Coordinator:
Mrs Fasser                         sgbg_germancourses@hotmail.com
                                           phone 050 8610174
consultation                        Sat – Mon 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Assistant
Mrs. Kamuran                    sgbg_kamuran@yahoo.ie
phone 691 0828 x 4317
consultation                        Tue – Wed 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.



Miscellaneous: Found on the Internet

Frankfurt Book Fair

The presence of the Guest of Honour “Arab World” at this year’s Book Fair was viewed on all sides as having been a huge success. With hundreds of readings, discussions, exhibitions and concerts, the Guest of Honour had succeeded in providing a wide-ranging glimpse of the heterogeneous cultures of the 19 countries that took part. “This has achieved an important beginning for comprehensive inter-cultural dialogue,”said Volker Neumann.

ArabNet on Saudi Arabia :

ArabNet is owned by ArabNet Technology (ANT), part of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group, publisher of the leading newspapers and magazines in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia including Asharq Al-Awsat.

Under the headings History, Geography, Business, Culture, Government,Transport and Tour Guide, you will find a lot of useful information, which seems to be quite up to date  (pages with 2002 copyright). A pity that there are not more direct links to the Web sites of some of the listed Ministries or other organizations. We found few mistakes (like describing the Jeddah Airport under the heading of the Riadh Airport and vice versa, nothing serious in fact).
These pages are very useful for all foreigners wanting to work or do business in the Kingdom. The business chapter for instance includes information about "Licensing, import and export duties, private sector joint ventures and agents".... and many more.

Jeddah International Motorshow :
In AME Info about forthcoming events, we found the announcement of the
Jeddah International Motorshow from 28th of November to 17th of December 2004.
The show includes:
Motorworld Arabia - 28 Nov-2 Dec- Saudi Arabia's 26th international motor vehicle exhibition
Autocare - 28 Nov-2 Dec - International event for parts, accessories and garage equipment
4 x 4 Show - 2-9 Dec - international event for 4 x 4 vehicles and accessories, incorporating major test drive circuit.
Automotive International - 12-17 Dec - International event for luxury, performance and specialist vehicles.