A group of 9 Polish businessmen and tradesmen representing a number of
companies will come to Sanaa on Wednesday 13th of May for a one-week
visit. They will meet and have talks with the Yemeni authorities and
businessmen in Sanaa and Aden.
Possibilities in oil sector investments as well as perspectives of Aden
Free Zone and the Port of Aden are the most interesting topics.
The volume of trade turnover between Poland and Yemen reached $14 million
in 1997 and it is steadily increasing. The coming visit shows a growing
interest of the Polish companies to expand their cooperation with the
Yemeni partners.
Ms. Lami Nasr, the consultant for the Employers Organization Affairs at
the International Labor Organization (ILO), has concluded a successful
visit to Yemen.
Issues discussed included the cooperation between Yemen and the ILO and
the technical assistance provided through ILO programs to develop the
Yemeni cadres and workforce at the chambers of commerce and industry in
various governorates as well as small and medium-sized establishments over
the next 5 years.
The General Investment Authority (GIA) in Sanaa has organized a special
seminar to discuss the conditions of foreign investments in Yemen and the
future requirements to attract more capital into the country. The seminar
was held in cooperation with the Investment Service Agency, which is part
of the World Bank. Executives from the GIA and Yemeni and international
investors took part.
Yemeni student Lamees Ahmed Ali Kalaz was shot dead on Thursday, 7 May at
the campus of New York University, where she is studying medicine.
The daughter of the Yemeni deputy permanent representative at the UN,
Lamees was planning to celebrate her 19th birthday and her engagement to
her Yemeni fiancee in a few days time when the incident occurred.
New York police are investigating this seemingly motiveless killing.
Informed sources have indicated that 15 cases of suicide and 20 attempted
suicides occurred during the first quarter of 1998. These numbers
represent only reported cases. Suicides are not reported because of the
associated social stigma.
Sociologists blame harsh economic conditions. Most of the suicides are
committed by mothers who are unable to withstand the torture of seeing
their little ones go hungry.
A delegation from the German Foundation for International Development
(DSE) arrived in Sanaa on Sunday, 9 May to participate in a seminar
organized by the Central Organization for Control and Auditing (COCA).
Entitled "Decentralized Procedure for Budget and Control," the
seminr is the fifth event of its kind to be held by COCA.
In a parliamentary session, the Minister of Education indicated that his
ministry's annual budget is gradually been eroded by the government;
while, the number of students is rising.
On another level, the minister said that only 53% of school-age children
actually "go" to school, and about 47% of those are often truant.
The figures are markedly different for girls: only 30% go to school.
Illiteracy is a different story altogether. There are about 5.5 million
illiterate people aged between 10 and 45 years. "We need 23 years to
eradicate illiteracy in our country," said the desperate Minister of
Education.
Preparations are fully underway for the First Conference for NGOs in
Yemen, which will be held during 16-18 June, 1998. Last week, six
sub-committees were formed to attend to the logistics and procedural
aspects of the conference.
Yemen Times learned that many European and Canadian NGOs will be
participating in the meeting, along with their Yemeni counterparts.
The purpose of the conference is: 1) To present feedback and comments on the draft law on NGOs, which
is presently under preparation by the government; 2) To establish channels of cooperation and partnership between
foreign and Yemeni NGOs; 3) To set up a network of contact for Yemeni NGOs in order to
facilitate the exchange of ideas, expertise, and other information as well
as to promote joint effort. 4) To enhance NGO participation in public life.
Yemen Times learned that the number of cases of malaria and typhoid
reported in Al-Mahara was rising. Until 5/5/1998, there were some 500
reported cases. Some patients were reported dead as a result.
The Ministry of Health says it has no resources to address the problem.
Philanthropists and charity organizations have started to provide
assistance.
The "1st Food Security Strategy Workshop" will be held on 14 May in
Sanaa. Organized by the Ministry of Planning, the EU in and the Dutch
Embassy in Sanaa, the workshop will be attended by senior Yemeni officials
and representatives of the EU and the Dutch Embassy.
A report entitled "Yemen Food Security Strategy" will be presented
by ADE Consultants.
