[25 August 2008]

SANA'A, Aug. 25 (Saba)- Minister of Public Works and Roads Omer Abdullah al-Korshomi confirmed that his ministry had planned a new program to activate road projects with a better level in order to reach various services to rural gatherings.

During his meeting on Monday in Sana'a with a delegation of the International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD), headed by Director of Near East and North Africa Region Department Dr. Nadeem Khuri, the minister pointed out the ministry's ambitions to accomplish road projects and focus on rural road projects so as to perform connection process with the residential gatherings in the rural areas and to get them partners in development and poverty alleviation in Yemen.

Al-Korshomi confirmed his ministry's interest to implement road projects with required specifications and standards, and exemplary use of loans to accomplish urban roads to serve population density in various regions and governorates of the Republic.

On his side, the Regional Director of IFAD pointed out that IFAD intends to support infrastructure in rural regions and direct its support directly to small farms within a number of procedures which enable them to benefit from their agricultural productions.

Khuri made clear that his visit to Yemen is in order to evaluate projects being implemented by IFAD in Yemen and to know priorities of the projects to direct support to them in the upcoming period.

At the same level, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Wealth Abdullah Awadh Basunbul held talks with the IFAD delegation on possibilities of making use of IFAD's support to Yemen in developing fisheries sector projects.

The meeting dealt with the importance of determining needs of fisheries sector for major projects which serve many parts of fishermen in order to direct support to benefit them during the upcoming years to contribute to fisheries products in Yemen.

The two sides reviewed fisheries sector activities in Yemen and its role in supporting state efforts to achieve the comprehensive development.

NN/AM

Saba