Markus Broemel
Companies from Germany’s Saxony province are seeking to increase trade between the region and Germany.
“Even though we are participating in the exhibition as a group for the first time in eight years since Project Qatar started, we are confident that local entrepreneurs will accept us,  provided we showcase and supply quality products to meet the needs of the construction industry of Qatar,” said Markus Broemel, project manager of Fairs and Exhibitions of the Saxony Economic Development Corporation.
Broemel is co-ordinating the exhibition activities of the group comprising 14 companies from Saxony which is taking part in the four-day event, at the Doha Exhibition Center. “Even though we have strong industrial infrastructure, our entrepreneurs were exposed to the global market only after German reunification in 1990, “said Broemel.
 “My feeling right now is that we should have been here at least from a few years before. The Middle East is crucial to the fortunes of Saxony firms and we hope to gain a good foothold in the next few years with the better quality service and products,” said Broemel.
The Saxony official who travels round the year with companies from the region to different expos feels there is a lot of equipment that Qatar requires for infrastructure expansion. Broemel feels the initiatives by their provincial government to cement relations with GCC states would do a lot of good.
“Saxony is outpacing all other German federal states with massive GDP growth, averaging 11.2% per annum since the year 2000. This has become possible only because of the pro-business attitude of the local government,” explained Broemel.
Broemel said Qatar presently requires the services of quality architects and engineers at the highest level and Saxony has a rich pool of both groups.
Saxony companies doing business in aluminium oriented industries, specialist furniture, plant construction, architectural services, solar control,  lighting equipment, concrete block industry, paints, gypsum and kitchenware are participating in the ongoing exhibition.
“Going by the response the exhibition has received in the first two days, we are sure that our companies would be only too keen to participate in the event next year,” said Broemel.
Saxony companies are also hopeful of gaining new access to areas which were not explored until now, with the quality and innovation of their materials, said the Saxony official.
Saxony was part of East Germany (German Democratic Republic) until reunification and the companies did not get the exposure they deserved at the international level, felt Peter G Nothnagel and Gunter Lammerzahi, officials accompanying Broemel in the current mission.