12 May 2022 www.bahrainthismonth.com Germany in Bahrain On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of diplomatic relations between Germany and Bahrain, we speak to German and Bahraini citizens who have helped bolster these ties. Abduljalil Al Ansari – Founder of the Bahraini-German Friendship Society and the first Bahraini to receive the German Medal of Merit – First Class. “My relationship with Germany began with my first trip to Cologne in 1965, where I attended an international exhibition where my personal and business relationships started. I think it’s very important for people to understand culture, from any visitors from Bahrain to Germany or vice-versa, whether it’s music, people, sights or more. As for commercial interest, I believe that German business relationships are important to us because not only are their goods and services reliable, but they are of exceptional quality. I am very proud to see the relationship which I believe I started in the 1960s when there were no diplomatic relations or embassies. It was up to me, my friends and colleagues to inform people about Germany, and I asked Bahrain and Saudi Arabian authorities to import products from there.” THE SOCIAL FABRIC Ali Khonji – A member of one of the oldest merchant business families in Bahrain, which started in 1898. “Our company was honoured to build the new German Embassy chancellery building which was handed over in 2011 and inaugurated by then-Ambassador, His Excellency Hubert Lang. We are extremely proud to have offered our services to the German government and we hope to continue this for years to come. I love to spend time in the south of Germany in the Black Forest area, since one of my favourite hobbies is walking. It’s one of my favourite holiday destinations. I believe there needs to be an International German School in Bahrain, which will boost the economic, cultural and educational relationship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Germany in future.” Birgit Hobaugh and Mohamed Alsharqi – Bahraini German International Services Birgit: “I came here more than 20 years ago, when it was a totally different world than it is today! I was made extremely welcome since my first day and it has felt like home. I still tell everybody who will listen how lovely a place it is. Mohammed and I opened up a company offering many services, in areas including travel and medical, between Bahrain and Germany. We have a lot of tourists coming to Bahrain, and I have found that as an official tour guide, Germans love Bahrain as I do! It’s great to show them all the important sites and history that we have, it’s real and traditional, which I don’t think is found as much in other Arab countries.” Mohamed: “When I invited Birgit to Bahrain for the first time, I was delighted that she loved the country and decided to stay. She has really adapted to the culture and gone deep into the Bahraini life, even though she couldn’t speak the language at first. I’m particularly interested in motorsports so I am proud to be the first Bahraini to start an official travel agency for motorsports between the two countries, offering up to seven tours a year for motorcyclists from Bahrain and the GCC.
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