Yemen Observer: http://www.yobserver.com

Germany to continue supporting Yemen

Posted in: Business & Economy
Written By: Faisal Darem
Article Date: Apr 12, 2008 - 8:25:02 AM
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The German financial and technical support focuses on financing several sectors especially combating corruptio and providing funds for technical and tertiary education
Yemen and Germany have agreed on priorities for future German support of Yemen to be financed by Germany in 2009 and 2010. This agreement took place in the final session of Yemeni-German annual consultative sessions on Tuesday in Sana’a. The meeting was chaired by Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Andreas Gies, BMZ Head of Middle East and Regional Development Policy Division (BMZ) in Germany.

The financial and technical support will focus on financing water and sanitation, basic and secondary education, health, economic development and technical and vocational training.

The agreement confirmed the continuation of Germany support for backing Yemeni governmental efforts to modernize water strategy and implement a national action plan. These efforts aim to reduce the steady attrition of water resources and ensure successful management of water resources.

The two sides agreed on increasing technical cooperation provided by various German institutions in the field of vocational training as well as evaluating its needs according to labor market’s need.

Germany will promote reforms of the health sector and strengthen aspects of coordination between donors and the Yemeni government will support health sector priorities, especially support efforts which may lead to a culture of reproductive health in Yemen.

The German government has also pledged to continue to work with Yemeni government to implement the decisions of the national strategy of micro financing.

Agreements have been made on giving priority to supporting governmental efforts of consolidation of good governance and strengthening factors of investment environment. Combating corruption will also be a focus through enhancing the roles of the Supreme National Authority for Anti-Corruption and the Central Organization for Control and Auditing.

They agreed on continuing to provide support to preserve of the historical cities of Yemen in Shibam Hadramout and Zabeed city, as well as support Yemen in the field of renewable energy and solid waste management.

The Yemeni government and the German Reconstruction Bank in Frankfurt singed a funding of open sewage program at sum of €14.7 million within financial support from the German government for secondary cities.

On April 7, 2008, a Yemeni-German annual state talk session between governments of the two countries, devoted to discussing future cooperation between Yemen and Germany, kicked off activities here in Sana’a.

The talks dealt with a number of issues concerning Yemeni-German cooperation, especially support of Germany to Yemen and creating new fields for German development support as well supporting economic sectors toped by water, education, health and sanitation.

The two parts also discussed topics concerning supporting Yemeni government’s efforts in combating poverty and achieved reform as well as discussing issues concerning government’s agenda for gathering international resources for development, improving validity of foreign aid to Yemen and enhancing institutional reforms.

“Yemen is keen to combat corruption through influential actions including judiciary reforms to ensure its independence and issuing of tenders law as well as forming of Anti-Corruption Supreme National Authority and Supreme Authority of tenders which aimed to translate reforms trends of Yemeni government into reality,” Minister al-Arhabi, said during launch of Yemeni-German annual consultative sessions.

Al-Arhabi reviewed achievements realized in field of implementing national reforms package, noting the importance of activating donors’ contributions to helping Yemen facing development challenges.

Andreas Gies from the German delegation appreciated Yemen’s keenness on developing relations with Germany, confirming his country’s continuous support to Yemen for poverty alleviation and realizing sustainable development.

Gies said that even though the German government in the framework of development new policy decided to reduce the number of countries that receive German support from 100 countries to 60, Yemen is still among countries which receive German aids.

He highlighted democratic dynamics in Yemen, noting that Yemen’s experiment of democracy is unique ideal in the area and gets wide international respect.

German annual assistance to Yemen is about €73 million, of which €50 million are granted to the country as financial support and rest of the sum as technical assistance, according to Hisham Sharaf, Deputy Minister of Planning and International Cooperation.