Local industries are the pillar of our nation's economy. But due to the influx of foreign products legally or through smuggling, the national industry in Yemen is now in a real impasse and is exposed to bankruptcy. 
To address this problem, Emad Al-Saqqaf and Mohammed Hatem Al-Qadhi of Yemen Times Taiz Office, interviewed Mr. Mohammed Tawfeeq Abdulraheem Mutahhar, General Manager of Tawfeeq Abdulraheem Mutahar for General Trade and Transportation, one of the largest companies in Yemen. 
The firm specializing in petroleum products, was established by his father in 1961. Today, it has the biggest gas-filling station in the country. Headquartered in Taiz, it owns a fleet of 202 large tankers, which distribute gas and petrol all over the nation. 
The company also represents many other products including leading brand lubricants. 
Mohammed, following in the footsteps of his father, who is still the chairman, is already playing a decisive role in the company's decisions. 
Excerpts of the interview: 

Q: What is in your mind the reason behind the deterioration and stumbling of some local industries? 
A: Actually, the reason is that these factories don't have protection. The influx of the foreign products is very detrimental to the national industry. Another thing is that these businessmen don't have needed facilities. Let me give you an example of this. We tried to establish a gas station in Aden. We installed the machines but we were shocked to find no electricity and water in that area. We went to the concerned authority but they didn't have necessary for introducing these essentials. We were forced to buy them ourselves. This raised the expenses of the station-establishing from 20 million to 32 million, you see. 

Q: What are the consequences following the breakdown of the national industries and establishments? 
A: They are really unspeakable. Many factories and companies will close down; some have already done that. Many businessmen face problems with their bankers. In other words, they do not have the necessary facilities. They are bankrupt. 
When such factories close down, the unemployment growth rate will ride high, the price of the US dollar will witness a free rise vis-avis the Yemeni Riyal, and we will witness many other economic problems that will plague our society. 

Q: What is the stance of the government in this regard? 
A: We can't lay the whole blame on the shoulder of the government. It is always said that there is some foreign attack on the national industries. The government has to show no leniency with smugglers, the real headache of the national economy. Stiff measures have to be imposed against this evil deed. The government has also to follow up the implementation of the laws it passes. We have been working in this business activity for around 30 years. So, if we don't know the situation in Yemen well, we would have closed down. We have faced a lot of problems with tribesmen and bandits. Only some days back, two tankers drivers were shot down and the tanker, containing gas was lashed with bullets. We informed the local authorities, but we were told to report to the Ministry of Interior. The police reached the place and found the two drivers killed. Who did it? 

Q: Is it true that the absence of marketing management for the national products make them marginalized and thus unknown to the consumer? 
A: Marketing is very fundamental either for the local or the foreign goods. They both need it. In fact, the local one is very much in need to marketing because of the illiteracy in our society. People in Yemen have an already made feeling that any foreign product has a very high quality which is not necessarily true. I don't agree with those who say that the deterioration of some factories is that they don't mesh with standards of quality and promotion because this doesn't serve the interest of the producer, particularly these days where products from all over the world are at the consumer's hands and available everywhere; any businessman is trying to get the consumer's satisfaction. 

Q: What is the impact of this fluctuation of business activities on your business? 
A: With regard to petrol, there is no problem. We used to face the headache of smuggling petrol. But it has stopped only in some parts in Marib due to the similar price of petrol all over the world. But we face a problem with engine lubricants and gas. The government issued a number of licenses for businessmen to establish gas stations. 
The problem is that the cylinders of these new stations are not brought from the international recognized and famous companies in Italy, Brazil and so on. Rather, they are made in some workshops in some of the neighbor countries and then smuggled to the country with the trade mark of these new gas stations. 

Q: Any last word? 
A: When the government issues licenses for businessmen for constructing factories or any other establishments, it has to consider many things. When it, for example, issues a license for constructing a biscuit factory which can cover the whole country, it should not give licenses to build similar factories. This is because this doesn't the interest of the previous as well as the new factories. It is not also good for the government because when the two factories weaken, the taxes it levies on them get lesser and lesser. 

 

After being held captive for 25 days (December 6-31) by the Bani Dhabyan tribe, four German citizens were released on new year's eve. This came in an atmosphere ominously overshadowed by the death of four British hostages in a shoot-out between government forces and their allegedly Muslim extremist captors. 
The Germans arrived safely in Sanaa on the first morning of 1999. They were met by Yemen Times reporter, Mohammed Bin Sallam. 
This is what they have to say about their time in captivity: 

Mr. Norbert Degen is a tourism expert who came to Yemen to evaluate the country's tourist potential and the development of its tourism industry. 
He said: "This is my first visit to this country. I came with my three colleagues to closely look into Yemen's tourist attractions and the type of services provided. We run a travel agency in Germany and we wish to provide German visitors to Yemen with all the information they need. 
"We had to have first-hand experience of Yemen and get the feel of the country. Our Yemeni experience culminated on December 6 with "forced" hospitality. We were kidnapped by a gang of the Bani Dhabyan tribe in Khawlan. Our abduction took place in broad daylight, on a traffic-laden highway, and with full view of security and army personnel. They did nothing to assist us. It was very weird and quite different from kidnappings in other countries. 

"Despite Yemen enjoying a numerous potential for a fully fledged tourism industry and despite its gorgeous scenery and the legendary hospitality of its people, with all honesty we cannot recommend it to our clients. If we do and they get abducted, just like us, then we would be infringing the ethics of our profession. 
"In addition to safety and security, Yemen must also provide its visitors with a good tourism infrastructure. We sincerely hope that this country will be safer for travelers in the near future. The government must never use force with kidnapers nor should it resort to retaliatory measures. 

"Those kidnappers are in need of basic public services to alleviate some of the hardship they have to endure. The government should really improve their areas by raising their living standards. They'll definitely abandon the kidnapping of foreign tourists if they feel that they are well looked after by the state. If the situation remains as it is, the kidnappings will continue and become a cry of protest by disadvantaged people. Although we still believe that abduction is a vile crime, the perpetrators must never be hanged. They were very kind and generous to us." 

Ms. Inge Brunner: 
"The first four hours of being held "guests" were the worst. Our abductors or "hosts" led us on a very rugged mountain road. We got shot at from different directions. We became very frightened. 
"After our arrival at their hideout, the kidnappers made it up for us with generous hospitality. They treated us very nicely with a lot of respect, trying to make our stay as comfortable as possible. This was despite their hard and austere life. 
"Physically, we were OK, being well-fed and taken care of. However, with the passing of time, nervous tension increased and psychological pressure mounted. We were afraid that the government would use force trying to free us with uncalculated consequences, just like what happened to the British hostages. We never feared that the kidnappers might shoot us or something. On the contrary, were felt quite safe with them and confident that they'll not harm us. 
"Thank goodness we got out safe and sound with many memories to tell to our friends and relatives." 

Ms. Petra Vengelista: 
"Our captors were very generous, bringing us all we wanted - food, cigarettes, fruits, etc. During the first two weeks of our captivity, we were the guests of a gracious Yemeni family. Women and children always wanted to know our needs so that they can answer them. We were allowed to wander in the vicinity of their home. Then we were moved to a second and a third place. While being moved, we were closely guarded. 
"However, in the third place, the situation changed completely. We were placed in a 5x2.5m room, along with seven children, their parents and some relatives who occasionally visited them. There, the food was not good. We starved, only having the Ramadhan evening meal with the rest of the family. Rescue came with a bumper of tinned food sent by the German Ambassador. We told our "host" family that we cannot fast like them. They understood and appreciated our situation. So we were fed bread, rice, eggs, chicken, etc." 

Ms. Roswitha Adlung: 
"During my time in captivity, I tried to write my memoirs. But I had to hide the papers because our captors banned us from writing, taking away the papers whenever they found them. I wrote in their absence. 
"Yemen has a lot to write about. It is a country that deserves some risk in order to see it. I'll certainly come back again, but I can't recommend it to others because of the lack of security. 

"The unfortunate thing is that the areas where kidnappings take place are just the places which tourists come to see, being rich with archeological and historical sites. I'm sorry to say that we were taken away in broad daylight on a road built by Germany. 
"As a female I felt very sorry to see young children carrying AK47 rifles and hand grenades. These children must go to school instead to grow up into responsible adults. I also felt deep sympathy with the women. They do virtually everything: taking care of the children, cooking, looking for firewood, bringing in water, looking after their men folk, etc. Despite all that they were treated rather harshly, I though, by the men."