iMOVE Trade Mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman

iMOVE held its third trade mission to the Gulf Region in September 2004. The destinations were once again Muscat (Sultanate of Oman) Dubai and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates, UAE).

The German participants – providers of initial and continuing vocational education and training – were afforded an insight into the training and further training market in both Arab countries.

Cooperation exchange events, evening receptions and visits to ministries and training institutions enabled the participants to establish numerous contacts with representatives from the field of politics, trade and industry, associations and German organisations operating in the Gulf Region.

From iMOVE’s perspective, the delegation visit to the UAE and Oman went off very well. The initial reaction of both the German participants and their Arab hosts was one of great satisfaction. A large number of business contacts were established and initiated, and feedback received by iMOVE has indicated that the following months saw a deepening of business relations.

The cooperation with the Dubai Chamber of Foreign Trade with regard to the organisation of the visit was excellent. Particularly worthy of mention is the successful “matchmaking” which took place within the scope of the cooperation exchanges. The Chamber of Foreign Trade had arranged suitable discussion partners for the German participants, enabling exactly the right partners to be brought together at the cooperation exchange events themselves.

The delegation visit also enjoyed extensive support from the German Embassies in Muscat and Abu Dhabi and from the Consulate in Dubai. Numerous ministries made themselves available for discussions and showed themselves to be willing to establish contact. The ministerial discussion partners were more than happy to provide the German participants with information about certain branches where there was a particular need for qualification, the health sector and tourism being two sectors which were particularly highlighted.

These positive experiences have meant that IMOVE is once again also planning a delegation visit to the Gulf Region in 2005. This will enable the emphasis to be placed on the health and tourism sectors.

In overall terms, the commitment of German providers to the Gulf Region is still in its infancy. However, this German-Arab cooperation has resulted in some tangible success, not least because of iMOVE’s ongoing activities in the Gulf Region:

In January 2005, the German Society for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in the Gulf Region signed a 5-year consultancy contract worth around €4.5 million with the Ministry of Labour in Oman to establish an “Occupational Standards and Skills Testing Centre”.

The International Federation (IB) has had a branch in Dubai since 2003, focussing on language and IT training.

The teaching materials manufacturer Lucas-Nülle opened a sales branch in Dubai in 2005.

Lufthansa Technical Training (LTT) is planning to establish a training centre and is currently involved in concrete talks with Oman and some of the United Arab Emirates.

Management Training is planning a branch in Abu Dhabi for 2005.

The Carl Duisberg Centres (CDC) have been holding various training courses in the UAE, Oman and Qatar.

The Rahn Dittrich Group carried out management training in Oman in September 2004.