22/06/2024
GCC-German Business® | ABU DHABI INVEST
There are no coincidences in life. Only destiny.
- Uta Gruda on Linkedin
January 2008. A business lunch. The Ritz-Carlton Berlin.
My dear friend Barbara, may her soul rest in peace, head of international affairs of the biggest organization in Germany for small-midsize companies - over 150.000 members - said to me concernedly:
“You cannot go there Uta. No other German company will attend.”
Barbara was talking about an invite. Not just any invite, but an invite to take part in the ever first Investment Forum at the Abu Dhabi Emirates Palace in the year of 2008.
“I will.”
I may have known little about the cities, but when an instinct drops in, you listen. And I did. Not knowing much about its culture, background nor the Arab language, I packed. But even while packing questions confronted me. I did not know should I wear an Abaya and headscarf due to my hair? Rest assured, I packed it.
Due to a storm in Berlin, I missed my connection flight to Abu Dhabi. I waited eight hours hoping to be able to join the flight from Etihad.
4 AM, we landed. I was late. Significantly.
The forum had started, the hotel stay paid, but missed.
Somehow, it did not matter. As I was standing in front of the airport, which was at that time far away from today, I felt happy, secure, exhilarated. This was the place. The place to be.
And I was right. 16 years going, and I still feel at home in Abu Dhabi. Now; for eternity.
The Forum, support of Abu Dhabi Government and business opportunities within Abu Dhabi were unbelievable. The warmness, hospitality and kindness of people in Abu Dhabi was simply indescribable. The respect for German people was noticeable. The moment I stepped foot into Abu Dhabi, I felt safe. Not knowing how, I nevertheless knew, I would step foot here, again.
And I did.
May the 30th 2008: ABU DHABI INVEST, ADI was created – a gateway for innovation, for new technologies.
2009: only a year later GCC-German Business Invest® GCCGBI® was founded. A wider vision set into action: business investments in the GCC, German-speaking Europe, Asia as well as LATAM.
Have us apply artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technologies and NFTs. Have us dive into the metaverse.
abudhabiinvest.com
Full article on Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/abu-dhabi-invest-adi-uta-gruda-ltpbe/