Yemen In 2010

Throughout the year, many events captured the attention of the world’s media, making headlines periodically during 2009. As we prepared to say goodbye to the year, recent headlines sprang up detailing the 23-year-old Nigerian’s attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight with almost 300 people on board. Reports began to surface questioning his stay in Yemen, raising question regarding Yemen’s perspective role as a sanctuary for extremists and terrorists.

Many chapters of Yemen’s year have yet to be written, others are yet to reach a conclusion. Others spill over the artificial date, and will continue to plague the country throughout the New Year. This coming year Yemen will continue to be mired in the conflicts of Sa’adah, the uncertain future of the Southern Movement’s activities and the economic reformations that are so necessary, among other issues

However, Yemen welcomes the New Year with a firm hope for improvement. Many are optimistic that 2010 holds better times in store for every part of the country. The coming year is neither an end nor a beginning; it is the ongoing journey of the whole country towards prosperity and success. True Yemenis wish and expect improved social, economical and political advancement for the entire nation.

Provided below are several of the major expected highlights of the coming year.

- The 20th Arabian Gulf Cup (Khaleeji 20) scheduled for the end of the year in Aden province, is the single largest sporting event to be held in Yemen in the coming year, and will be accompanied by high expectations. Excitement is already beginning to build for the Cup, not in Yemen alone, but also in the entire region. Despite the many doubts that have been tabled pertaining to Yemen’s readiness to host such an event, Yemen broke its silence, with President Ali Abdullah Saleh himself confirming that the 20th Arabian Gulf Cup will still be held in Yemen. He noted that the most sophisticated preparations are underway to present an honorable face of Yemen throughout the competition. Speculations of whether the recent security threats would impact the ability for Yemen to host were mitigated after the president released a statement indicating that all preparations for a successful event are on track. The development of Yemeni football will receive a major infusion of excitement and support with this event.

- For the first time, Yemen will host the Asian Youth Basketball Championship Finals in Sana’a. Earlier in 2009, the Asian Union assigned Yemen to organize the regional finals, which will provide the rankings of the teams as they enter the Basketball World Cup. The finals will take place between the months of August and September, 2010.

- ZincOx Company will finalize the first large scale mining project in Jabali al-Nahem zone producing zinc. ZincOx is a major British company specializing in the recovery of low cost zinc from unconventional sources. Its operations consist of mining, recycling and refining. Mining commenced in March 2009, but due to the difficulties of the global economic downturn, plans for the project had to be deferred. With the recent rebound of the economic markets, the completion date for the project has been set for September of 2011. The project displays the government’s desire to support the industrial industry as a way of diversifying and decreasing its dependence on the oil sector. The exploration and development rights to the Jabali zinc deposits are owned by the Jabal Salab Company (Yemen) Limited (Jabal Salab), in which ZincOx holds a 52% interest. Jabal Salab has a 20-year exploration agreement with the Ministry of Oil and Minerals. Furthermore, Ansan Wikfs Investments Limited, a company owned by a prominent Yemeni business family, holds the 48% balance of the corporation. The project comes with large potential for Yemen to utilize zinc as an alterative source of national income.

- Yemen’s largest cultural event for 2010 will be the honor of Tarim city being named as the capital city of Islamic Culture in 2010. During a meeting of Islamic Cultural Ministers in Algiers in 2004, the Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) chose Tarim as an Islamic cultural Capital for 2010 from among several nominated cities.  The decision to choose the town was made because of what it has to offer in regards to cultural, intellectual, and religious aspects, and its moderate attitude towards the spread of the Islamic faith all over the world. During 2009, the Ministry of Tourism finalized its own vision for the success through the improvement of the city’s infrastructure. This cultural event will open a wide door for the historic cultural heritage of the city to be on prominent display. The city intends to provide a closer look at the cultural heritage of Yemen, including presentations on the “must-see” areas of the land. In addition to the 365 mosques within the city and the unique Islamic architecture, which distinguish Tarim from all other cities in Yemen, Tarim was historically important due to its scientific and religious schools, which still attract students from all over the world.

-  Economically, the country is set to experience several major achievements. Five strategic projects in property, service and tourism, at a total cost of $14.6 billion, will be inaugurated in 2010. The General Holding Corporation for Property Development and Investment, “Shibam”, will inaugurate the projects periodically during 2010. In quarrel, the Qatari investments in Yemen began earlier last year with the Qatari Diar company implementing its “Telal al-Rayan” project, a tourist resort at a total cost of $600 million, which will be in progress through the year.

- Aden University will celebrate its 40th anniversary since its establishment in 2010. The university’s departments, colleges and centers will hold many celebratory events during the first months of 2010. The university plans to hold events that will exceed any other in the university’s history. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) signed an agreement with Aden University, increasing scientific cooperation between the two institutions, and will assist develop the medicine, pharmacy and dentistry colleges. The agreement is expected to take affect in January, 2010. The university and WHO will cooperate in the scientific and technical fields of medicine and health. The agreement purposes to create scientific opportunities through which the university may further research in the latest developments in medicine and well-being. Additionally, university students will benefit from the organization’s free service “E-book” which includes 1430 electronic scientific references in different health and medical disciplines.

- The state’s budget for 2010 will be more than YR 2.7 trillion. At the end of 2009, the parliament approved the 2010 state budget.

- In an attempt to increase the country’s production of oil, OMV, an Australian company, will be building a $60 million fuel pipeline in Yemen in 2010. this pipeline is part of a continuous monitoring plan to increase oil production at the Haban well in bloc S2, from 11,000 barrels to 32,000 barrels a day by the end of 2010. With the takeover of Preussag Energie GmbH in 2003, OMV has gained a very strong presence in Yemen, and holds exploration and production licenses for three large fields. With excellent oil discoveries and high exploration potentials, this country in the Arabian Peninsula is regaining its feet.

-   During January, the Foreign Ministers of Yemen and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States are to hold a meeting in Sana’a. The meeting will review the results of last GCC summit held in Kuwait that asserted the GCC states’ support to the unity, stability and security of Yemen.

-    A Memo of Understanding (MOU), supporting English language learning in Yemen, was signed in 2009 in Sana’a between the Ministry of Education and British Cultural Council, and will be adhered to until 2012. The MOU will not only reform the learning programs and support the English language teachers in the basic education, but also provide training centers for English language. The program expects to train 3,100 elementary school teachers in 2010, invite English language experts to hold workshops about teaching the language and support Yemeni specialists attend international conferences.

With only a cursorily preview of the upcoming events for the coming year, one can feel the possibilities that await Yemen, with many other possibilities on the horizon. These proposed events display the burning desire within the country to progress.

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