BASF UAE’s managing director Harald Kroll has been appointed as a board member of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK), the first bilateral federal German business organisation as well as the first international institution on federal level founded in the Gulf.

The year-long appointment, which will run until June 2012, adds the backing of the global BASF brand to the AHK, strengthens the leading chemical company’s visibility in the region and enhances the company’s access to high-level business networks.

AHK’s role is to instigate, facilitate and develop trade and business relationships between Emirati and German organisations and decision-makers. AHK offers business support services to help companies enter the market, organisation of delegations as well as legal support and trade fair services. Through the reputed Emirati and German members of the board of directors and the board of trustees, the AHK has direct access to Emirati decision-makers, which is crucial for initiating business transactions. AHK currently has 450 members, including a number of medium-sized German companies doing business in the UAE. It is one of 120 AHKs in 80 countries worldwide, which fulfil the role of German foreign business development on behalf of Germany.

Commenting on the appointment, Kroll said: “I am very pleased to take up my role as board member of AHK. I trust my long business experience and the clout of the BASF brand in the region and globally will stand the council and its members in good stead. I look forward to closer association with other successful companies in the region and to gaining greater insight and understanding, through interaction with the members of this council, of the business opportunities, as well as the needs and challenges the country faces.”