[28/April/2009]

SANA'A, April 28 (Saba)- Italy and Yemen singed on Tuesday an Understanding Memo to grant the Sustainable Development Project and biodiversity in Socotra Archipelago with $3 million.

According to the memo, the Italian government offers $3 million and the Yemeni government offers $600,000 to support sustainable development and biodiversity in Socotra Archipelago.

The project aims at enhancing the institutional building and the Yemeni participation in the Global Island Partnership, in addition to implementing the strategy of sustainable development enhancement in Socotra Archipelago.

The memo was singed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul- Karim al-Arhabi, Minister of Water and Environment Abdul-Rahman al-Eryani and Italian ambassador Mario Buffo.

Al-Arahbi expressed the Yemeni government's appreciation for the Italian support, mentioning that Yemen is interested to coordinate with the initiatives that target biodiversity preservation in Socotra.

TD/AM

Saba