In light of the economic and geopolitical challenges facing Germany, medium and small companies seek to explore new markets to enhance their sustainability and growth.
The German Federal Business Office of Medium and Small Companies saw the web summit in Qatar an opportunity to enhance economic partnerships and benefit from the advanced investment environment in the region.
In this context, we had a dialogue with Nizar Marouf, the regional director of the German Federal Office of Medium and Small Companies of the Cooperation Council countries in Qatar, to talk about the motives behind the office’s participation in the web summit, and the benefits that German companies can achieve from this expansion towards Arab markets.
-
What are the factors that pushed German medium and small companies to go towards the Middle East market and participate in the web summit in Qatar?
Germany has witnessed in recent years multiple challenges that affected the business environment, the most prominent of which is:
Energy scarcity and high costs: The Russian -Ukrainian war led to turmoil in energy supplies, which affected the German industries that were largely dependent on Russian energy.
This situation prompted companies to search for new and stable markets to expand their business.
Traditional foreign markets: With the slowdown in some European and Asian markets it is necessary to explore emerging and promising markets to make up for this deficiency.
The policies of the new German government: With the formation of a new government in Germany, there is still anticipation of how it deals with the economic file, especially with regard to encouraging the diversification of economic partnerships and enhancing its presence in new markets such as the Middle East.
Opportunities available in Qatar: Thanks to institutions such as the “Invest in Qatar”, the Qatar Financial Center and the Qatar Free Zones Authority, the state has become a major center for attracting foreign companies, which makes it an attractive environment for German and small business leaders and companies.
Accordingly, we decided in the German office of small and medium -sized companies to enhance our presence in Qatar and participate effectively at the web summit to link German companies with new opportunities in the region.
-
How can German and small German companies benefit from their presence in Qatar and the Middle East?
This step comes at a time when the German economy is witnessing prominent demographic transformations, and the managers of many medium and small companies have become immigrant origins, as a large number of them belong to families who moved to Germany during the past decade.
This diversity within the German economic community gives companies a deeper understanding of global markets and different cultures, especially in the Middle East.
-
“War on Minds” .. Why does Germany go to Qatar?
There is a “global war on creative minds”, as countries are competing to attract competencies and talented people in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Today, global markets are witnessing a fierce competition for attracting innovative minds and distinguished entrepreneurs, which prompts German companies to search for supportive environments that provide real opportunities for growth.
In this context, Qatar has emerged as an attractive destination, not only for investment, but also as a global entrepreneurial center thanks to the support provided by the state for startups and advanced infrastructure.
-
Why is Germany the right partner for Qatar in this field?
Germany has one of the most powerful infrastructure in the world with regard to technology and education, and it also has a strong educational system that secretes entrepreneurs and innovators at a global level, and cities such as Berlin, Munich and Dusseldorf have become a center of attraction for startups, especially in the areas of high technology, artificial intelligence and software engineering.
This diversity in skills and innovations makes Germany an ideal strategic partner for Qatar, as we can provide advanced technology and expertise needed to push the entrepreneurial environment in the region forward.
This cooperation reinforces large Qatari investments in Germany, which exceeds 25 billion euros distributed over various sectors that include the automotive, technology, banking, energy, shipping and infrastructure industry.
These investments reflect the depth and durability of economic relations between the two countries, which enhances the opportunities for cooperation in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship.
-
What is the role of the German office in strengthening partnerships between Qatar and Germany?
The role of the German office for medium and small companies was not limited to enhancing its presence in Qatar through the web summit, but also played a pivotal role in facilitating the contract of many partnerships between the Qatari and private sectors and German companies in various fields and industries.
Since we started our activities as a regional center in Qatar two years ago, the office has been able to contribute to developing strong relations between German companies and their counterparts in Qatar, whether in the governmental or private sectors.
Our recent participation in the web summit has strengthened this role, as several cooperation agreements were signed between Qatari institutions and German companies, which reflects the importance of our presence in the region and our presence as an active destination in supporting these partnerships.
We have succeeded in bringing more than 100 German figures to participate in the web summit in Qatar, which reflects the increasing interest by German companies with the investment opportunities available in the region.
Cooperation between the two sides is not limited only to the field of technology, but also extends to other sectors, such as industry, education, research and development, which opens wide horizons for future cooperation.
The German Business Office initiative is an important step in strengthening economic relations between Germany and the Middle East, at a time when countries seek to enhance innovation and benefit from emerging opportunities.
The question remains open about the impact of these partnerships on the future of entrepreneurship in the region, and what German companies can provide to support digital and industrial transformations in the Gulf markets.
