WB aids to Yemen will be increased

The Executive Directors of World Bank confirmed that World Bank assistances to Yemen will be increased due to Yemen being one of the Bank’s priorities, they said during press conference held last Tuesday before their departure. World Bank assistances in the future would focus on supporting sectors which concerned on people life such as health and food sectors.

The delegation’s talks focused on under-implementation projects which being financed by the WB and to get better acquainted with their essential needs in addition to discussing the bank’s future projects in Yemen.

In the press conference, attended by World Bank representatives of India, America, Japan and International Finance Corporation Manger of PEP-MENA (Private Enterprise Partnership Middle East and North Africa), the rate of loans usage is satisfactory, and they have not received any complaint on this side. 

They talked about strategy of good governance and combating corruption, which was adopted last year by the directors on the board of bank. Good governance and combating corruption integrated to all projects will be implemented in countries that receive funding from the World Bank.

The World Bank supports project of civil service reform which aims to reduce duplication of employment. The Panel also called government to diversify resources of income to improve Yemeni economy and noted that the World Bank assisted Yemeni government to establish Social Fund for Development and Public Works Project, which selected later to be among the best projects world wide. 

Also considered was the financial disclosure, which implemented by SNACC for senior officials and will help in short or long run for achieving transparency, accountability and fighting corruption.

The Executive Director of the World Bank in the U.S., Whitney Debevoise, affirmed that the bank would increase its aid to Yemen and would ask donors and its partners for augmenting their support to reforms and development programs in the country, said during his meeting with President Ali Abdullah Saleh, held on Saturday.

The meeting discussed the projects the bank finances and the others being implemented currently in addition to the future projects the bank will carry out.  The meeting also reviewed financial, administrative and judicial reforms implemented in the country. 

Debevoise valued the Yemeni achievements towards enhancing the independence of judiciary, reinforcing transparency and combating corruption. 
Saleh, in return, praised the bank’s role and its assistance to back the country in the development and reform processes as well as its efforts during holding the London Donor Conference, accentuating the country’s intention to keep on such endeavors until release the desirable goals.

On the other hand, representatives of Yemeni Private Sector headed by Chairman of the General Union of Commercial and Industrial Chambers, Mohammad Saeed, and World Bank’s delegation headed by WB’s executive director in the U.S. held cooperation talks here on Saturday. 

The talks discussed cooperation between the Private Sector and the WB and role of the sector in leading development. The talks also discussed future cooperation, and Private Sector’s technical needs in promoting its role in supporting sustainable development.

Saeed highlighted WB’s contributions in Yemen’s development hoping that the visit of the delegation would realize more positive results.

“Private Sector is playing its role in development process seriously,” said Saeed, noting that Private Sector is keen to use WB’s organization in developing investments via supporting the General Union of Commercial for constructing a center for trade mediation and arbitration, training and qualifying center and unit for small industries and promoting capabilities of Yemeni Female Businesswomen.

The delegation confirmed keenness on increasing WB’s investments in Yemen and affirmed also supporting General Union of Commercial’s programs aiming at expanding its activities and developing its affiliates.

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