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Gulf Daily News
Friday, 21st October 2011 13
Grab reconciliation chance urges new ambassador
BAHRAIN must grasp the oppor- mendations of the National Dialogue, wounds, according to newly-appoint- made by the Bahrain Independent move forward.
tunity for reconciliation, says a top especially those which aim to give ed German Ambassador Sabine Commission of Inquiry, which is due “It makes me very sad to see how
Bahrain hub for
envoy. more authority to the elected parlia- Taufmann. to issue its report on the unrest next sections of the population in my new
The implementation of the recom- ment, could help heal the country’s She said any recommendations month, was another opportunity to host country, having lived together
for centuries, are begin-
ning to become estranged
from each other,” said Ms
Taufmann.
“From the very depths of
my heart I wish that the
evening clashes will end as
soon as possible and that
the leadership and the oppo-
sition groups will start a
German firms
meaningful dialogue.
“We await with huge
interest the BICI report
(led by Professor Mahmoud
Cherif Bassiouni).
“Its findings and recom-
mendations and especially
their implementation will be
crucial for peaceful recon-
ciliation in this country,”
she said.
Ms Taufmann said she
was happy that three women
had won seats in the by-
election and now make up
10 per cent of parliament.
She encouraged them and
By ReBecca ToRR good option for Bahrain because there other MPs to find out their
might not be enough territory for solar rights and responsibilities
GERMAN companies are still keen energy. and how they could best
to invest in Bahrain despite the eco- “They have energy consuming com- serve the people.
nomic downturn and unrest which panies like aluminium, so they should “They must push the
affected the country earlier this soon think about it. In the long run it implementation of the
will be cheaper to use renewable ener- recommendations of the
year. gies. National Dialogue because
More than 50 German companies “Germany is quite strong in the field it is in the hands of parlia-
are based here and others are looking of renewable energies,” she said. ment,” said the envoy.
to make the country their hub for the Ms Taufmann said she was exploring “They should see what
Middle East, said German Ambassador the possibility of further co-operation their powers are as parlia-
Sabine Taufmann. between Bahrain and German universi- mentarians and use them to
The most recent German companies ties, vocational schools and technical better serve their people.”
to set up base in Bahrain are BASF and colleges. Ms Taufmann was speak-
RMA Pipeline Equipment Company, She said the embassy was still exam- ing prior to a celebration
Rheinau, which have decided to invest ining the possibility of opening a pri- to mark the 21st anniver-
a minimum of $70 million (BD26.4m) vate German school, starting with kin- sary of the reunification of
in the country. n Ms Taufmann in an exclusive interview with GDN senior reporter
Rebecca Torr dergarten, but it needed investors. Germany. It was hosted by
Leading chemical company BASF “It has to be founded privately and Ms Taufmann and her hus-
is establishing a state-of-the-art anti- “I would like to see fresh investment which only required BD500,000 or then later can be support by the German band Gernot at their private
oxidant blends plant at the Bahrain in the field of renewable energies, at BD1m and this was an advantage. Foreign Ministry, but we need Bahraini residence in Saar last night.
International Investment Park and the same time I would also like to see “The legal framework is safer here investors,” she added. Diplomats, government
RMA Pipeline Equipment Company a Bahraini investment in Germany, espe- than the rest of the region and that is The ambassador is trying to encour- officials, business leaders,
new engineering facility at the same cially in small and medium enterprises probably more important to them than age Bahraini students to study in VIPs, Press and members
location. (SMEs).” the political situation,” she said. Germany and is offering German class- of the German commu-
“This is clear evidence of the con- Ms Taufmann said many foreign “Even though the private sector was es in collaboration with the General nity attended the celebra-
tinued confidence German companies companies were keen to set up base affected by the unrest they are still opti- Organisation for Youth and Sport. tion, which included a
have in the political and legal system in in Bahrain so they can reach the entire mistic about political development.” The next term starts in January. cake cutting ceremony and
Bahrain,” Ms Taufmann told the GDN. region, from Egypt to Pakistan, and Ms Taufmann said there were many “I would also like to see Bahraini the national anthems of
“The Economic Development Board Saudi Arabia in particular. opportunities for collaboration with students going to Germany since stu- Germany and Bahrain.
(EDB) is planning to go to Germany She said although there were oppor- German companies in the field of dents are the real ambassadors of our The Day of German Unity
in November and hopefully this will tunities for investment in countries such renewable energies. countries,” she added. falls on October 3.
attract further investment to Bahrain. as Qatar, Bahrain had smaller projects She said wind energy may be a rebecca@gdn.com.bh Picture – Page 14
n Bahrain staff of Kraft Foods have joined their counterparts from all over the world to celebrate Delicious Difference Week, the
company’s third annual global week of service. Kraft Foods Bahrain plant director Terry Denton said more than 30,000 employees
undertook more than 700 projects that aimed to fight hunger and promote healthy lifestyles globally. “In Bahrain, where we
have 60 employees, we put together a two-day event to educate schoolchildren on the importance of nutrition and healthy
lifestyles, in collaboration with the Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS).” The employees were joined by their colleagues from
the company’s Saudi Arabian offices and factories in Dammam. Above, employees who took part in the event. Right, BRCS
secretary-general Sadiq Al Shehabi, centre, with two of the participants.