The conference was part of Daniel Sander’s visit to Lebanon, organized by the Germany Embassy where, in his function as the president of the Chamber of Engineers of Baden-Württemberg, he visited several Lebanese universities and engineering companies in order to present Germany and Baden-Württemberg as important economic hubs and attractive working environments for well trained engineers.

The aim of the conference was to inform Lebanese engineers who are interested in working in Germany about the concept of social market economy in order to give them a deeper insight into the socio-economic aspects of working in Germany. Addresses to the conference were delivered by Daniel Sander, President of the Chamber of Engineers of Baden-Würtemmberg, Elias Assouad, President of the Lebanese-German Business Council, Sebastian Damm, Cultural Attaché at the German Embassy in Beirut, Rodolphe Karam, Member of Council at the Lebanese Order of Engineers, as well as Peter Rimmele, Resident Representative of the KAS office in Lebanon.

In his remarks, Peter Rimmele presented the model and the history of the social market economy and the organisation of the German economy in general as well as the role that the German state plays in regulating the economy as well as granting social security and justice. In order to elucidate more concretely the opportunities of Lebanese engineers in the German economy and the framework of social market economy. Daniel Sander subsequently presented the economic and business opportunities of Baden-Württemberg and highlighted in particular the shortage of engineers in Germany in spite of their essential role in the German economy. Elias Assouad emphasised the fact that greater economic dialogue and exchange between Germany and Lebanon would be beneficial for both countries not only in regard to Lebanese engineers working in Germany but also through the exchange of know-how and the promotion of German investments in Lebanon. Concluding, Rudolphe Karam welcomed the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the Chamber of Engineers of Baden-Württemberg and the Lebanese Order of Engineers and Architects and concluded that closer economic cooperation between Germany and Lebanon was long overdue.

Several Lebanese engineers, professors and representatives of companies attended the conference.