RIYADH — Germany will be the guest of honor at the next Janadriyah Festival to be held from February 4 to 22 at the Al-Janadriyah heritage village located on the outskirts of Riyadh. German Ambassador Boris Ruge stated that it was a great honor for Germany to have been chosen as the guest country for the upcoming 30th edition of the festival. “It is a recognition of the excellent state of our bilateral relations to have been chosen as “special guest” for the most outstanding cultural heritage festival in Saudi Arabia. The German participation will take place under the slogan “Germany - Land of Ideas: Innovation has tradition,” Ruge said. In the German Pavilion, situated at the center of the festival site, the Saudi public will be able to learn more about Germany and experience the rich diversity of German culture and traditions. “Germany is seeking a dialogue with the people of Saudi Arabia and we hope that the German pavilion can contribute to the mutual understanding of each other's culture,” as Ruge said. On the occasion of the official opening of the Festival, German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be back in the Kingdom. German artists, folklore dancers and musicians as well as renowned academics from Germany will participate in the 30th national heritage and culture festival at Al-Janadriyah. “In the pavilion visitors will find ideas and projects of 'Made in Germany' whether in business, science or society, and experience innovative solutions the country is offering to meet future challenges. We are inviting the Saudi audience to time travel through a typical German city,” Ruge said. The pavilion tour starts at a medieval city gate and proceeds over a moat into the inner pavilion. Visitors will then experience a historical market place and half-timbered houses, called “Fachwerkhäuser,” before proceeding into modern German life and houses and typical German apartments. Shops along the street will house various German companies and their innovative products and craftsmanship. The end of the tour is marked by a fascinating look into the future. “By visiting the German pavilion, people can experience firsthand that innovation indeed has tradition in Germany,” the ambassador said. Strong partners for the German Pavilion The German Foreign Office has initiated the project of the German pavilion together with the place branding initiative “Germany – Land of Ideas” and the cultural institute of Germany, the Goethe-Institut. Partners from the German private sector will be the Airbus Group, State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, DETASAD, Deutsche Bank, Dorsch Gruppe, Dussmann Group, Herrenknecht, Lufthansa, Luerssen, SAP, Siemens, Volkswagen and V-Line. GESALO/AHK Saudi Arabia will be the organizer of the economic program. The hospitality partner is Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski. — SG
