The Bahrain General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) has announced the signing of a major logistics agreement with the City of Nuremberg, Germany to develop mutual co-operation and enhancing bilateral relations.

GOP chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa and Nuremberg City deputy mayor and CEO of Business and Infrastructure of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region Dr Roland Fleck signed the MoU at Nuremberg during the GOP’s second annual road show to Germany last week.

With the prime objective of strengthening the logistics relations and promoting bilateral exchange of information, know-how and technology between the two countries, the MoU will provide a solid framework for mutual co-operation, said the officials after the signing ceremony.

As part of the agreement, both Germany and the Kingdom will develop logistical relations providing marketing support for all logistics companies to gain access to the markets in Middle East and Germany as well as Europe.

In addition, the duo will support the development of co-operation between all relevant logistics organisations, institutions, associations and administrations with regard to infrastructure, technology and science.

The technical logistics expertise and cooperation will be implemented through this MoU in conjunction with Nuremberg Inland Port and Freight Village in Germany.

Shaikh Daij said, 'The agreement is a key milestone in bolstering exchange of business between Bahrain and Germany, leading us towards establishing stronger logistics engagements with the European market.'

'It signifies a strategic step towards promoting the Kingdom’s logistics and maritime credentials and strengthening the delivery of international best practices in logistics management. The MoU is particularly important at this crucial time for both the Nuremberg region and Bahrain.'

'With the world gradually emerging from recession, the agreement comes at an opportune time consolidating Bahrain’s position as an ideal regional base and gateway from which German and international businesses will be able to access the trillion dollar, priority target markets of the Gulf,' he remarked.

Prior to signing the MoU, the GOP delegation showcased the Kingdom’s logistics and maritime credentials with logistics specialists at a business exchange meeting in Nuremberg.

The GOP team also delivered a presentation on Bahrain’s Investment Environment, Maritime & New Port exploring opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in maritime and logistics industries.

The GOP delegation included Abdulla Khalil Al Muraikhi, adviser to the chairman, Abdulrazak J. Zainalabedin economic advisor to the chairman, Maysoon Sabkar, director of Marketing and Communications, Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, head of planning, Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ) and Bassam Ameen, head of Business Development, BLZ.

The GOP delegation was accompanied by senior members of Bahrain German society including Abdul Jaleel A. Kareem Al Ansari, president, and board members Andreas Buelow, Eva Steinhaus and Khalid Turk, who attended and supported all events in Berlin and Nuremberg.

During the five day visit, the GOP delegation also attended the 13th German Arab Business Forum where Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa addressed the forum’s key note session opening, while a representative from BLZ showcased Bahrain as a multimodal logistics centre for the European market.

Speaking at the forum, Shaikh Daij said: 'Germany is a target market and a valuable partner for Bahrain. Its bilateral trade with Germany has been growing steadily over the years and with exciting new developments in Bahrain’s maritime and logistics sectors the future looks even more promising for our two nations.'

'With its new facilities such as the state-of-the-art Khalifa Bin Salman Port, and a new multi-modal logistics park, Bahrain Logistics Zone, the Kingdom of Bahrain is now better positioned than ever before, to facilitate access to the Gulf markets,' he added.

Other key note speakers at the opening of the German Arab Forum included Dr Thomas Bach, president of the Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Prof Ossama Abdulmajed Ali Shobokshi, ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Dr. Bernd Pfaffenbach, state secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, who recently visited Bahrain as part of the high-level German delegation headed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The GOP sponsored the opening reception of the forum attended by 300 people. The three day forum was attended by over 500 delegates, including representatives from various Arab nations including Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen and Palestine.

Bahrain’s Ambassador to Germany, Ahmed Mohammed Yousif Aldoseri accompanied the delegation and participated in all the programs in Berlin.

As part of the visit, the GOP delegation also attended a lunch chaired by Dr. Gerhard Schröder Honorary Chairman, Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV) former chancellor of Germany, where the delegation met Erich Staake, CEO of Duisport the largest inland port in the world.

As Germany’s oldest and largest non-profit independent service provider for the Near and Middle East region, Numov supports the bilateral business activities between Germany and the Near and Middle East.

Bahrain’s bilateral trade with Germany has been growing steadily over the years and the non-oil trade between the two countries crossed the 500 million euro mark in 2007.-TradeArabia News Service