DUBAI: The 6th Dubai Hamburg Business Forum recently concluded in the German port city of Hamburg with a call to expand cooperation between Dubai-based businesses and their Hamburg counterparts in the areas of digitalisation, smart mobility and fintech, as both cities embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, while it also coincided with a high-level trade mission to Hamburg led by Dubai Chamber.
Held under the theme, “Digitalisation – The Driver of Tomorrow’s Growth”, the forum brought together public and private sector stakeholders from Dubai and Germany to explore new horizons for fruitful cooperation between the two cities.
The event was held in the presence of H.E. Ali Abdullah Ahmed, Ambassador at the UAE Embassy in Berlin; H.E. MajidSaif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber; H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber; H.E. Hisham Al Shirawi, 2nd Vice Chairman, Dubai Chamber;H.E. Tobias Bergmann, President of Hamburg Chamber of Commerce; and H.E. Cornelia PruferStorcks, Senator for Health and Consumer Protection for the City of Hamburg.
Addressing delegates at the forum, H.E. Al Ghurairhighlighted the many synergies which Dubai and Hamburg share as cities that have witnessed rapid change and digital transformation in recent years. He pointed out that Dubai has achieved great progress in its mission to become one of the smartest cities in the world, while Hamburg has successfully leveraged Internet of Things (IoT) technology to maximise the advantages of digitalisation.
“There is no doubt that the future will be digital, with new technologies and innovations expected to transform our business communities. By strengthening our cooperation, I believe we can pave the way for new partnerships that fuel digital transformation and create great value and benefits for our societies,” said H.E. Al Ghurair.
In his welcome remarks, H.E. Tobias Bergmann, President of Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, described Dubai as Hamburg’s most important industrial partner, and added that economic cooperation between the two cities fosters employment, stimulates innovation and new product developments in many fields.
Participating in a moderated talk, H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber; and Prof. Dr. Hans- Jörg Schmidt-Trenz, Representative and Counselor, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, discussed potential for strengthening ties between business communities in Dubai and Hamburg.
H.E. Buamim noted that Dubai offers German businesses plenty of growth opportunities as a gateway offering easy access to emerging markets in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, adding that Germany, as a leading centre for innovation, education, and renewable energy, can provide the right expertise to support Dubai’s transition to a sustainable and knowledge-based economy.
