http://www.english.hadhramaut.info UK supports Yemen with £8.9 mln to enhance investment [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 26/1/2009] Yemen and UK signed here on Sunday at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation a UK support agreement of £8.9 for enhancing investment in Yemen. The agreement signed by Minister of Planning Abdul Karim al-Arhabi and the British International Development Minister Mike Foster aims to strengthen Yemeni government's efforts for improving investment and business environment in Yemen. Al-Arhabi assured the agreement would enable Yemen to avail from the international experiences for improving the investment environment in Yemen in accordance with the best international exercises, He praised the level of bilateral growing cooperation between Yemen and Britain, which is considered the major donor for carrying out the national reforms adopted by the Yemeni government based on the Yemeni demands. For his part, the British Minister Foster praised the Yemeni-British bilateral ties, indicating the Yemen's achievements in the national reform field. The British minister also stressed that the British government is interested in strengthening the joint cooperation frames with Yemen. Prior to signing the agreement, an official talk session has held here between Yemen and Britain and co-chaired by the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul Karim al-Arhabi and the British International Development Minister Mike Foster. The session has dealt with a number of issues related to enhancing bilateral cooperation between Yemen and Britain. It is worth to mention that the total British assistance presented to Yemen reached £20 million during 2008. The British government has recently raised its assistance to Yemen to 400 percent during the period (2006 – 2011). The increase was under the developmental partnership agreement with the Yemeni government signed last August 2006. This partnership is the first of its kind in the Middle East and the seventh at the world level.