Saudi-Arabien Wirtschaftshandbuch Saudi Arabia Business ... - Ghorfa

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German companies will find a market in Saudi Arabia
whose key areas such as oil and gas, petrochemicals and
infrastructure are primarily controlled by the state. State
offices are the main points of contact for foreign companies
regarding the awarding of contracts in large projects
in the above-mentioned economic sectors and for the privatisation
of state operations. Contracts for large-scale
projects and/or the import of investment goods and other
products by state offices are always issued on the basis of
public tenders.
Important official points of contact are the ministries,
such as e.g. the Ministries for Trade and Industry, for
Economy and Planning, for Crude oil and Minerals, for
Telecommunications and Information Technology, for
Traffic, for Water and Electricity and for Health. There
are also other important government authorities such as
e.g. the investment authority SAGIA, the Department of
Customs, the General Organisation for Technical Education
and Vocational Training (GOTEVT), the Saudi Ports
Authority, the Meteorology and Environment Protection
Administration (MEPA). The following state companies
should also be mentioned: the Saudi Arabian Oil Company
(ARAMCO), Saudi Basic Industries (SABIC),
Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC). Ghorfa
maintains top rate contacts to all of these organisations.
It is also helpful to maintain contact to the local Chambers
of Industry and Commerce that are located in all larger
towns. They are not only able to provide general economic
estimates but also market studies for individual sectors
and company information in the shape of industry and/
or business directories. This allows professional specialised
contact partners in construction companies in Saudi
Arabia who have expertise in the respective markets to be
found quickly. The Saudi Council of Commercial and Industrial
Chambers represents the interests of the chambers
at the national and international level. This committee is
an important voice in politico-economic decisions when
representing the interests of the private sector.
A particularly important point of contact for potential
investors is the Saudi investment authority SAGIA that
was founded following the passing of the new investment
law in 2000. As a “One-Stop Shop”, the SAGIA has set
up a so-called Investor Service Center (ISC) that offers
the investor all necessary services, ranging from making
contacts through to the commissioning of the project,
from one source. The ISC, which has offices in all major
industrial cities, provides support and advice in all
detailed questions, e.g. when submitting the application,
issuing licences, visas and residential and work permits.
Also, the SAGIA offices can provide information about
financing options, customs and tax issues, infrastructure
conditions, real estate and work costs. Investment
applications can be submitted either directly to the ISC
or via SAGIA’s website. SAGIA has a branch office in
Frankfurt/M in Germany.
The task of the Saudi German Development & Investment
Company Ltd. (SAGECO) is to promote German-Saudi
cooperation in the shape of joint ventures. The SAGECO
offers German and Saudi companies extensive consulting
services and practical support when planning, preparing
and realising cooperation projects in Saudi Arabia. This
involves identifying investment options and partners,
drawing up economic analyses and providing support
when realising new projects. The service scope comprises
general information about the investment environment
in Saudi Arabia, highlighting joint venture potential,
searching for partners in Saudi Arabia and Germany to
form joint ventures, offering support for all legal issues,
such as licence applications, trade registrations and contract
designs or advice regarding financing. Other services
include organising investment seminars in Germany,
coordinating the Saudi-German Business Dialogue and
issuing publications relating to investment and business
transaction topics. The SAGECO offers German company
representatives office and secretarial services. The
Ghorfa is an excellent partner for companies looking to
make contact to the above-mentioned organisations.
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MeSSen unD AuSSTellunGen
Die Teilnahme an Messen und Ausstellungen bietet gute
Möglichkeiten für eine erfolgreiche Markterschließung
und Kontaktanbahnung zu potenziellen Geschäftspartnern.
Darüber hinaus bieten diese Veranstaltungen eine
Gelegenheit, das eigene Marktpotenzial zu ermitteln
und Unternehmenswerbung zu betreiben. Bei einer
Messebeteiligung sollten deutsche Unternehmen stets
die Nachbarmärkte Saudi-Arabiens, insbesondere die
Golfregion, den Nahen und Mittleren Osten sowie
Ostafrika, in ihre strategische Absatzkonzeption einbeziehen.
Zwar hält Saudi-Arabien als Messestandort
einem Vergleich mit den VAE noch nicht stand, die Zahl
der Fachmessen und Ausstellungen ist allerdings in den
letzten Jahren stark angewachsen. Die wichtigsten internationalen
Messeplätze befinden sich in den Wirtschaftsstandorten
Riad, Jeddah und Dammam. Messen
bzw. Ausstellungen mit internationaler Bedeutung sind