[27 October 2007]

SANA'A,  (Saba)- President Ali Abdullah Saleh chaired on Saturday an extended meeting on issues associated with investment in Aden, Abyan, Lahj and al-Dal'e.

In the meeting, chairman of the General Investment Authority presented a report on investment activities in the country, positive results of the conference of Exploring Investment Opportunities in Yemen (EIOY) and measures taken to better investment climate in the nation.

According to the report, the authority has registered big investment projects at a total of YR193.9 billion in agriculture, tourism, industry, fisheries wealth, and service projects. It indicates that that these projects would offer more than 8,000 jobs.

The authority has registered projects at a sum of YR32.6 billion in Aden during the period from April to September 2007 at an increase of RY4.5 billion compared to the same period of last year.

In Lahj, the authority has also registered projects worth of around YR11.9 billion during the same period.

Director of Developing Port Cities also presented a report in which
he pointed out to the projects which have been achieved this year as well as future projects.

The report indicated to the achievements of the first phase of the Corniche of Aden City and developing the industrial zone of al-Drein in the governorate and other development projects in Aden.

In the meeting, president Saleh said that investment requires stability. "Unfortunately, some people trigger demonstrations and sit-ins to make obstacles in front of investments," affirming that investment process would go forwards through removing all these obstacles and encouraging investors.

He gave orders to operate Aden Containers Port in accordance with adopted goals and pace measures of negotiations with companies who want to run the port.

Saleh also gave orders to supply citizens of Aden with services at reasonable fees like other governorates. He also ordered to improve health service by rehabilitating Aden Hospital and finding out funds to set up a new hospital in the city instead of al-Jumhory Hospital.

President highlighted steps taken by the government to supply markets with wheat, affirming the importance of encouraging private sector to invest in setting up grain silos to insure existence of strategic storage of crops in the country.

Then, the Prime Minister Ali Mujawar headed the meeting that discussed certain reports over investment,health and services in these governorates.

He said that these governorates got good shares of investment projects due to their
attractive investment features, calling on all to gather efforts to better environment of investment and overcame all challenges facing investment process in the country.

AH/AM

Saba