Business In Brief [Archives:2006/941/Business & Economy]
Yemeni-Spanish relations are witnessing qualitative transfer in various areas in light of positive results from the Spanish foreign minister's recent Sana'a visit.
Sources mentioned that during the visit, an agreement was made to arrange a June visit to Sana'a for a delegation of Spanish businessmen and company representatives to explore and discuss investment opportunities and building joint projects.
Sources added that Spain also decided to place Yemen among countries receiving Spanish foreign assistance and it is expected that Spain will inaugurate such assistance with $10 million.
Sources also mentioned that a Yemeni ambassador to Spain will be appointed within the next year as diplomatic representation previously was at the level of charge d'affaires.
Sources added that during the upcoming period, Yemen and Spain will discuss signing a security agreement similar to those between some European countries with the aim of bolstering security cooperation, exchanging information and expertise and coordinating terror fighting efforts.
At a recent meeting chaired by Governor Ahmed Mohammed Al-Kuhlani, Aden governorate's investment committee agreed to submit a list of names of investors who are not serious and have investment contracts for projects not yet begun, with the aim of taking action on them.
The committee also discussed impediments facing the governorate's investment sector and efforts aimed at preparing and promoting the city of Aden to be considered for comprehensive economic, trade and tourist investment. The committee also reviewed efforts and methods used to attract investors in the promotional process.
During the meeting, Al-Kuhlani said Aden will receive many commercial and investment delegations in coming months, which will help create job opportunities in all fields and contribute to alleviating unemployment.
The total amount of cattle smuggled from Yemen to neighboring countries last year was more than 35,000 cows, sheep and goats, most of whom were females that neither are allowed to be sold nor slaughtered inside Yemen in order to protect animal wealth development.
This information was revealed by Dr. Mohammed Yahya Shujaa, a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. He said Yemeni cattle exports to neighboring countries via legal crossings amounted to 3,000, exported to Kuwait and the Arab Emirates at a cost of more than YR 1 million.
Yemen signed a memorandum of understanding with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, wherein the fund accordingly will offer Yemen $1 million in assistance to finance stations to control sewage leakage in the capital of Sana'a.
The signing took place in a meeting between Abdulkarim Al-Arhabi, Yemen's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, and Abdulatif Yusuf Al-Hamad, director-general and chairman of the fund's board of directors. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of Arab financial institutions' joint annual meetings recently held in the Moroccan capital of Rabat.
Al-Arhabi also discussed cooperation aspects between Yemen and the fund and ways to boost them in the future to enhance the fund's contributions to supporting Yemeni development projects.
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