Arab-German Family Business Summit in Bahrain offers unique opportunity to share the latest international thinking on family business management
26 October, Manama, Bahrain. The forthcoming Arab-German Family Business Summit will offer unique opportunities for Middle East businesses to network with German family companies and hear the latest international thinking on family business management according to Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB).
The summit, being held in Bahrain for the first time, will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manama from 30 October to 1 November 2009. Organised by the International Institute for Family Enterprises (IIFE), in close cooperation with the Bahrain EDB, the event will be attended by over 200 representatives from German and Arab family owned companies.
The summit will focus on how to address the challenges that confront family businesses in the current era of profound structural change in the global economy. Leading discussions in workshops and roundtables will be business leaders from the Middle East and Germany, as well as academics from world class institutions including Harvard Business School, Princeton University, The Wharton School, Yale University, Cairo University and Witten/Herdecke University, which is host to IIFE.
Shaikh Mohammed said: “The EDB and the IIFE have worked closely together to make this year’s summit a major success. Bahrain’s economy, the most diversified and arguably one of the most modern and liberal in the Gulf, was built on a foundation of family businesses. In Bahrain, as part of our Economic Vision 2030, we actively encourage continued innovation and growth of such businesses as a key part of the Kingdom’s economic development. This event offers the opportunity for the region’s family owned businesses to share experiences with their German counterparts, to become involved in discussion, hear the latest international thinking on family business management, and to network and develop new business contacts for the future.”
Khalid Mohamed Kanoo, Group Managing Director of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, and patron of the event said: “Interest in the region from German family owned companies is growing, with many German companies using Bahrain as a base to develop their business and their contacts. We are extremely pleased that nearly 100 owners of leading German family-run companies have chosen to join around 100 Arab family businesses and 40 international business academics to explore how our common business interests can develop and grow.”
Dr Hubert Lang, German Ambassador to Bahrain said: "Germany and Bahrain have strong business links which go back many years, some even for decades. In its second year, the Arab-German Family Business Summit will help to sustain and reinforce these ties and bring further business benefits to both our countries."
Paul Dietze, Managing Director of the International Institute for Family Enterprises (IIFE) and organiser of the summit said: “The uniqueness of the Arab-German Family Business Summit is that we are bringing the owners of family-run companies together, not the sales teams as in conventional business exhibitions. Therefore we will see the highest decision-makers in personal interaction, building relationships and making deals on the spot in our Face-to-Face Business talks.”
Well known German family owned companies represented at this year’s summit include Henkel, Kärcher, Knauf, Mueller, Oetker, all of which already have business interests in the region, and many others attending are seeking to develop or renew business contacts, partnerships and opportunities.
Regional companies can register for the summit by Email at registration@iife.de
Notes to Editors
The IIFE organized the Arab-German Family Business Summit 2009 in close cooperation with the Bahrain Economic Development Board. Khalid Mohamed Kanoo and Dr. Arend Oetker are the patrons of this year’s summit. The summit will be hosted by H.E. Dr. Hassan bin Abdulla Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry & Commerce.
The International Institute for Family Enterprises (IIFE) was founded in 2007 as the international unit of the renowned Witten Institute for Family Business at Witten/Herdecke University. The IIFE is the first academic institute to focus on family businesses by enabling the sustainable and personal exchange of knowledge, experiences, and innovative strategies between leading family
businesses around the world.
About The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB)
The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) is a dynamic public agency with an overall responsibility for formulating and overseeing the economic development strategy of Bahrain, and for creating the right climate to attract direct investment into the Kingdom.
The role of the Bahrain EDB is to provide leadership by uniting all of the Kingdom's shareholders through a unified vision, and to develop key strategies for growth. The Bahrain EDB also acts as a facilitator, helping all of Bahrain's stakeholders to understand and adopt the changes necessary for progress. In addition, the Bahrain EDB provides sound project management to ensure that all agreed reform initiatives are implemented in an effective and timely manner.
The Bahrain EDB is also responsible for attracting inward investment into Bahrain, and is focusing on six target economic sectors in which the Kingdom offers significant strengths. These are financial services, downstream industries, tourism, business services, logistics, and education and training.
More information on the Bahrain EDB is available at: www.bahrainedb.com
Further information
Samia Yakub, Bahrain Economic Development Board
Tel: +973 17 589 891
Email: internationalmedia@bahrainedb.com
Alisdair Haythornthwaite, Bell Pottinger
Tel: + 971 566 901 725
Email: ahaythornthwaite@bell-pottinger.co.uk