No.10, March 2006


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,


There has been a lot of discussion regarding the activities scheduled by SGBGJ. People tend to argue that they will not renew and particularly not pay their membership for 2006 unless they see a lot of activities, social gatherings etc. being organised. Unfortunately this is reminding me of the famous question if you first need an egg to get a chicken or first a chicken to get some eggs. Applied to the SGBG it means that we can't organise quite costly functions (needing catering etc.) like  social gatherings on a monthly basis if the members have not previously paid their membership fees and we have some cash in our account.
What we could do was to organise several ladies' events: a very successful visit to Western Bakeries and another one to an exhibition about Yemen. Actually in the pipes is a visit to a Shrimps Farm outside Jeddah.

So let me gently remind you again :  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

Classical Music Concert :  Duo Cornelius Schmaderer (Cello) and Kathleen de Domenico (piano),  2nd of April 2006.
The social gathering of March 2006 will be replaced by an outstanding and quite unusual event : In fact, our chairman, Sheikh Khaled Juffali, has kindly accepted to host a private concert of classical music in his house and to invite all regular 2006 members of SGBG to attend this function. The SGBG team is very grateful to Sheikh and Mrs. Juffali for their generosity and we will surely have a delightful evening.
The duo Schmaderer – de Domenico started in 1982. They have given many successful concerts in Germany as well as in other European countries, the Middle East, a great number of countries on the African and Asian continent.Over the years they have built up a wide repertoire ranging from the early Baroque through the Romantic Period up to the Modern Classic.

Ladies' event : Visit to a Shrimps Farm outside Jeddah. Exact date not yet available

Investment Banking Forum, a German GCC Perspective: "Towards Knowledge-Based Investment Banking", May 2006, exact date to be communicated in due time.
 Organizers: JCCI IRC/ Saudi Economic Society/ SGBG-J
Venue: Hilton Hotel / Al-Qasr Hall
Several of the SGBG-J Board members, i.e. Sheikh Amr Khashoggi and Dr. Nahed Taher, as well as our coordinator, Mrs. Najwa Malik, are involved in the preparation and organization of this important upcoming event which will feature German  and local high ranking banking specialists.

Highlights of the Past

Ladies' event : Visit to the production site of 'Western Bakeries', 1st of March.
A group  of about 10 ladies set out to the Jeddah Industrial Area, where Western Bakeries' General Manager, Johannes Goetz, was expecting us. After an excellent video presentation of the company, its history, goals and achievements so far, commitments to hygiene, standards of quality etc. commented by Mr. Goetz, we were led to the production halls where he showed us all the processes of fabrication and answered patiently our numerous questions. As we all had some individual baking experience most questions were of a technical order, as for example, "what happens if somebody opens the oven in the middle of the baking process" or " how does the machine manage to fold the puff pastry several times" etc. etc. Most processes of fabrication are almost entirely automated, including the wrapping and packing of the finished product. Finally, we were offered some refreshments and some delicious apple pies still warm from the oven, and we departed each with a big bag full of the different products of Western Bakeries. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Goetz once more for having spent one whole morning of his precious time with our group.

Ladies' event: Visit to an exhibition on Yemen (photos and artefacts), 8th of March.

<>This exhibition was located in a small municipial museum behind the Mahmal Center in Balad and consisted mostly of photos of the Yafa'i region of Southwestern Yemen. Besides the photos which were explained to us by one of the responsible persons, they had some displays of traditional silver jewellery, spices, flowers etc.
In one or two rooms we admired an exhibition of paintings by a Yemeni artist. Before we left we were generously offered some coffee, and little snacks. Many thanks to our member, Mona Baghour who organised this visit for us.

Members' Corner: membership card and discounts
2006 membership cards enabling our members to claim the special discounts offered by all the below mentioned companies and shops will be distributed during the upcoming SGBG events or can be obtained directly from Najwa once the 2006 membership fee has been paid.

Discount offers:
Several companies/shops/restaurants have agreed to offer substantial
discount to our members :
* National Company for gifts and Sweets, shop "Le Bonheur", 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 2006; Special meeting packages

* Erfan & Bagedo Hospitals
Substantial discounts (50% and 25%) on all medical examens, surgeries etc.
  
* Mövenpick Resort Al Nawras Jeddah

* Al Bilad Hotel (Golden Tulip)
One of the most popular hotels in Jeddah, Al Bilad is offering SGBGJ members
very substantial discount rates (UP TO 40%) for rooms with or without
breakfast. Please ask our Coordinator, Mrs. Najwa Malik, for detailed information.

* Eed Clinic for Plastic Surgery (near Erfan & Bagedo Hospital)
This very well renowned clinic offers one free consultation and up to 50%
discount on all services including operations. Our contact is Dr. Mamdouh A.
Aziz Ashy (For appointments and information please call : 639 88 58 62).

* Soleil d'Or SPA
15% on all services for SGBGJ lady membres. Contact : Mrs. Fatin Salah,
General Manager. Mob : (055) 534-8015 / Tel. +966 2 283 22 33 / Fax. +966 2
284 07 30;    E-mail : info@soleidorspa.com


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

Some upcoming events listed by AME Info :

Saudi Building and Interiors Exhibition - SBIE

Venue:  Jeddah International Exhibition & Convention Centre

Country: Saudi Arabia
Start date: Monday, April 17 - 2006
End date: Friday, April 21 - 2006
Website :  http://www.acexpos.com

German Language Center

DEUTSCHE SPRACHKURSE            GERMAN LANGUAGE COURSES
 Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Our new German Language Courses start on

 
The courses are held on Sundays + Tuesdays, from  7.00 pm to 8.30 pm
This session will consist of twelve evenings.

The term ends on the 4th of June 2006.

Highly qualified native German teachers only! Small classes provide intensive tuition!
Our students should be over 16 years old and have a reasonable knowledge of the English language to be able to follow the lessons.

Enrolment and information :  Please contact the office at the German International School  in Jeddah.
Phone : 02 691 35 84
E-mail : office@German-School-Jeddah.org

Office hours: Saturday to Wednesday from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
The office will be closed from 06.04 - 21.04 2006 due to school vacation.

Please bring the course fee of  SR. 1380.- (includes text book and CDs) in cash to the enrolment plus a copy of your Iqama/or passport and one passport photograph.

Miscellaneous: Found on the Internet