Almotamar.net Saba - SANA'A, April 23 (Saba)- Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Abdul-Raham al-Attiyah asserted on Monday the importance of
implementing reforms agenda and bettering investment environment in Yemen.

In his speeches in the sessions of the conference of Exploring Investment Opportunities in Yemen (EIOY), al-Attiyah also affirmed the importance of fitting Yemeni Investment Law with those adopted in the Gulf states and benefiting from successful experience in this regard, as well as easing measures of getting investment licenses.

He called on giving further facilitations to encourage investors and review current Tax Law. He suggested organizing a symposium over partnership between Yemen and Gulf states and granting licenses for Gulf banks and insurance companies to work in Yemen.

In the sessions of the conference, deputy Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Mohammed al-Hawari, presented a paper in which he talked about the economic ties between Yemen and Gulf states.

The paper confirmed that the Gulf countries are the key trade partners for Yemen as the Gulf experts to Yemen were YR 331 billion worth in 2005, and the Yemeni experts to the GCC states reached YR 90.4 billion for the same year.

The paper indicated some steps to enable Yemen to join the GCC such as raising funds to carry out investment projects for the third 5-year plan of economic and social development and poverty
reduction during 2007-2010 and the conference of investment.

Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association pointed out to the interest of Gulf states to invest in Yemen, saying that Yemen has natural materials such as oil and minerals as well as agriculture, in addition to its abundant human resources.

He signaled that the participation of the Gulf private sector in the conference aims at getting a close idea on investment environment compared to other countries, adding that the Qatari businessmen are confident that Yemen is in its way to start new economic progress. They have desire to contribute to improving
economic development in Yemen, he said.

Saba