No.8, December 2005


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,

Eid al-Fitr and the nice break which came with it are already behind us and before everybody travels again for the quite long winter vacation ahead of us the SGBGJ team would like to inform you once more about what is going on and what is planned in the long run.
First of all, I regret to be obliged to inform you that the planned event on "The Arabian Horse" had to be rescheduled to an actually still unknown date during next year. This was due to a lot of organizational and timing problems, but as usual you will get all the necessary information once the event will be on track again.

We would like to draw your attention once more to the very interesting trip to the Aqaba Coast with Dr. Roobol of the Saudi Geological Survey. The deadline for your inscription is getting quite near, so don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Renate Husseini . For details see below in 'Future Events'.

And last but not least : Do not forget to renew your membership for 2006 as soon as possible and please do inform our coordinator of all changes in your telephone numbers, e-mail addresses etc.  We had several complaints from people about not receiving any information from SGBGJ and generally the reason turned out to be an obsolete e-mail address!


Future Events

Social Gathering : 13th of December,  in the Garden of the Residence of the German Consul General.
As the weather is beautiful and rather cool these days, we expect to have a very pleasant evening.  These events are at the very core of SGBGJ's mission, which is to bring Saudis and Germans together in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere which allows people to know each other and eventually create business partnerships.


The Arabian Horse : A 2 days' event with lectures, a show of prized Arabian thoroughbreds and much more:  Winter  2006; exact dates not yet available.
This event is being planned and managed by the German Consulate General together with the Cultural section of the French Consulate General and Sheikh Ahmad Badreig, owner of a stud farm on the outskirts of Jeddah, breeding stunningly beautiful Arab Thoroughbreds, who has very generously offered to host the event on his premises. The invited public will include the members of SGBG but it is not an SGBG-only event. European and Saudi specialists will hold lectures and we will have a show of these magnificent horses. All necessary details will be provided as soon as possible.

SGS Geological Fieldtrip to the Gulf of Aqaba Region : 18th - 24th of February 2006

A seven day excursion to the Gulf of Aqaba region is being organized by the Saudi Geological Survey.The trip follows an earlier one at Madinah which looked at the volcanoes in that area.However this trip will be longer and more loosely organized. Participants are expected to bring their own four-wheel drive vehicles and camping gear for one night. Participants will drive themselves, fuel their cars and pay for their accommodation and food.The Saudi Geological Survey will provide a guide book, two guides ( Dr. John Roobol and Mr. Mohammed Al-Rehaili) and obtain permits for travel in the area, especially the coastline. 

The Gulf of Aqaba is a major fault and plate boundary where 110km of left lateral offset has occurred in the past 20 million years. Concrete pillars recently erected across coastal fault zones are moving a  few millimeters per year.  Spectacular fault scarps are preserved in steep cliffs of shattered granite that plunge into water up to 1.8 km deep. The coastline is in pristine condition but corals reefs are rising by tectonic uplift and can be found up to 98 meters above sea level with well preserved corals, shells, echinoids etc.   In this little inhabited area there are many very scenic areas to visit from deep rock canyons to spectacular sandstone pillars.  There are Nabatean tombs similar to those at Madain Saleh at Al Bad. 

DEADLINE. The trip will be for 30 persons (six of whom will be from the Saudi Geological survey). A final list of participants, their nationality and passport numbers must be available by 10th December in order for SGS to get the permits to go onto the coastline.   

 Source : Dr. John Roobol, SGS

Any person interested in participating in this trip is kindly requested to contact Mrs. Renate Husseini (  tahahusseini@hotmail.com )  to register.

Highlights of the Past

Members' Corner: membership card and discounts

Reminder : The below mentioned discount offers are strictly limited to SGBGJ members, holders of a valid membership card, this means actually the 2005 membership card.

ACTUALLY ONGOING : BIG SALE

For your Seasonal Gift Shopping

Rosenthal Showroom

Offers you its professional services

 

You will find a big selection of

wonderful gifts

in every price category

 

Also our gift wrapping section

is waiting to serve you

of course free of charge

 

 

You find us on Shobokshi Street

behind Al-Hamra Sofitel Hotel

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.

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

Tell Communication is very proud to introduce special rates for SGBG members with all new models of Siemens Mobile.
Contact :
Qusai Ghawanmeh

Saudi Arabia

Tel: +966-2 6510321 Ext.5955

Fax:+966-2 6534368

Mobile:+966-55608699.

P.O.Box10661 Jeddah21443

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.

Business News
It is fairly but not completely up-to-date, the most recent article is dated 24th of November.

Some upcoming events listed by AME Info :
The Super Secretary
Intended for secretaries, P.A.s and office assistants who, apart from taking a refreshing break would acquire time saving techniques and be extremely motivated to return to their work places. It would act as a refresher to all the organizing skills, which were left behind during the daily fire fighting activities. Bosses will indeed witness a positive change in skills and attitude and performance of their nominees, upon return from this highly motivational program.
Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jeddah
Start Date :  Tuesday, December 06 - 2005

Jeddah Economic Forum

In addition to the above listed events in the very near future, we would like to transmit to our members the following communication we received by email very recently :  (remember that Sheikh Amr Enany, our honourable Board member, is in charge of the organization of the Jeddah Economic Forum)

Alsalam-u-Alaykum,  Dear Sir/Madam,
<>7th Jeddah Economic Forum, being held from 11th to 13th Feb. 2006.

JEF is one of the most eagerly-awaited yearly events among the business community not only in the Kingdom but throughout the Middle East. The Forum is attended by world leaders, including Presidents and Prime Ministers, prominent business leaders and intellectuals, all of whom represent various institutions and industries from various parts of the globe.
Theme :                                      Seeding Potentials for Economic Growth

Date                                         : 11th, 12th, 13th Feb. 2006

Timing                                       : 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (evenings may extend)

Venue                                       : Jeddah Hilton Hotel

Fee                                           : Male guests (US$ 1500, includes meals)

                                                  Female guests (US$ 750, includes meals)

Registration start date                : Early December 2005

The registration is scheduled to start in early December 2005. Please note that upon receipt of your payment, you will receive your official invitation along with other relevant details.

<>We very much hope that you find this information helpful. However, if there is anything else which you like to be informed about, please do not hesitate to contact us. Many thanks and warm regards.  <>Yours sincerely,
Arif R. Jam,

Forum Administrator/Administrative Assistant

Jeddah Marketing Board

Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Mob:+966501663412

Tel: +966-2-651-5111 Ext: 2908/+966-2-657-0001

Fax: +966-2-657-1415

E-mail: arif@jcci.org.sa

German Language Center

Actually there is an ongoing session of the German Language Center and the next session is planned for the end of January 2006.


Miscellaneous: Found on the Internet

As everybody knows, Saudi Arabia recently won accession to the World Trade Organization and it might be interesting to have a closer look at the WTO Website.

http://www.wto.org/

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. Its functions are :
• Administering WTO trade agreements
• Forum for trade negotiations
• Handling trade disputes
• Monitoring national trade policies
• Technical assistance and training for developing countries
• Cooperation with other international organizations

The Website provides information about the WTO organization, the ongoing work of the different committees, the settling of disputes and of course a lot of information on the member states and on the ongoing negotiations for accession to the organization.
Concerning Saudi Arabia, you will find a lot of interesting documents under the heading WTO News ( http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm ) as well as under the heading 'Accessions in progress'  after a click on Saudi Arabia ( http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/a1_arabie_saoudite_e.htm ) where on the bottom of the page you have a link to 'All unrestricted documents on accession of Saudi Arabia' .