almotamar.net - Director-General of international cooperation Nabil Shaiban said France would support Yemen's development plans with 40 million euros during the year 2007 in addition to other 4 million euros to be offered by the French government's International Solidarity Fund.

In his statement to almotamar.net Mr. Nabil added it is scheduled that the French minister of cooperation and development to arrive in Yemen on Wednesday to present the first part of the support amounting 40 million euros to be followed with signing with the minister of planning and international cooperation of Yemen Abdulkarim al-Arhabi a document for partnership between the two countries defining priority of the French support during the years 2007-2011 that can amount to doubles of the first phase .

The director-general of international cooperation at the ministry of planning that the document will include a package of projects Yemen would name and to sign on them by a team of the French Agency for Development by the end of this year. The document includes huge projects related infrastructure, agriculture, food security, cultural and technical exchange, scholarships, exchange of expertise in higher education and scientific research and other sectors to be defined according to their importance.

The Yemeni official said Yemen has been enlisted among beneficiary countries from another financing establishment of the French government, namely, International Solidarity Fund that will offer Yemen 4 million euros this year. He said the sum will be used for supporting areas of youth and sport, the heritage and environmental diversity and giving loans to private sector.