German presence at Janadriyah adds new dimensions to ties

The ongoing Janadriyah national heritage and culture festival welcomed German government representatives as the guests of honor, marking a new era in Saudi-German ties.
Detlef Daues, chief executive officer of a German business group, said: “It is indeed an honor to be part of such a prestigious cultural festival.
“This helps us demonstrate how keen Germany is on partnering with the Kingdom to overcome future challenges.
“The moment our ambassador in Riyadh informed us that Germany had received an invitation from the National Guard Ministry, the main organizer of the event, we agreed to participate in the festival with a view to sharing our innovative ideas.
“Our focus is basically to show the similarities between the cultures of Saudi Arabia and Germany by discussing tradition, family and trust, as these three main areas reflect what is common among us.”
Daues and his colleague Anas El-Arras commented on their commitment to the event, especially with reference to the Nitaqat program to streamline the Saudi labor market.
“We not only try to fulfill Saudization criteria by hiring the required quota of Saudi youths under the Nitaqat program, but we also train them to give them career development opportunities,” he said.
“On Feb. 7-8, we held a two-day workshop for Saudi women interested in working for our company,” he said. “We strongly believe that Saudi women are highly skilled and well educated. Hence, graduates of Saudi institutions of higher learning, such as Princess Nora University, can add meaningful value to industries.”
They concluded by noting that German companies in Saudi Arabia positively reflect the image of Saudi Arabia abroad. 
“When you come to the Kingdom and are exposed to the Saudi lifestyle, as the German delegation is experiencing at Janadriyah, you realize that such an immersion into Saudi culture is essential to bridging any cultural or other gaps.”