http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Prime Minister launches the First National Industry Conference [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 23/12/2008] Prime Minister Ali Mujawar launched on Monday the First National Industry Conference in Yemen. The two-day conference is organized by Hadramout Commerce and Industry Chamber in cooperation with Ministry of Industry and Commerce. In the ceremony, Mujawar spoke to the attendants and welcomed Yemen's businessmen guests who came from brotherly and friendly countries, hoping the conference success for realizing its aims. " Our political leadership and the government belief in importance of improving wise governance system in Yemen for it is considered the basic approach for pushing forward development path and it is the ideal way for nationalizing the industry and attracting foreign investments," said the prime minister. He talked about economic, financial and administrative reforms Yemen has been carrying out since 1995 and considered them basic axis for economic and social development, noting that development path has been enhanced in the national agenda for reforms. He renewed call to Yemeni, Arab and Foreign investors to make use of investment facilitations the country provides and utilizing investment opportunities available in Yemen. He reviewed projects of setting up industrial zones. He noted that three zones have been launched till now in governorates of Aden, Hudeidah and Lahj. He described launching these zones as important step. For his part, Previous Malaysian Prime Minister Mahthir Mohammad talked about Malaysia industrial experience and steps the country has followed for realizing inclusive renaissance via promoting industries "Yemen has to work much for creating suitable industrial environment that would have great reflection on middle term if we don't say in short range. Many countries have become rich because of wealth reflected by industry process," said Mohammad. He affirmed that Yemeni government must be ready to amend its different laws and legislations unable to attract local and foreign investments. He asserted improving administrative performance for eradicating corruption which is increasing by management's bad performance. "If you could create competence in Yemen, industrial development will be easy," he said. He indicated importance of combating financial and administrative corruption in terms of granting investments licenses that must be short, "laws are not able to fight corruption." "Yemeni government must provide necessary infrastructure wither ports or electricity, roads, waters or others and providing training and qualification centers," said previous Malaysian Prime Minister. He noted that Yemen has to create industries of high quality to be able to enter contest actively. For his part, Yemeni Minister of Industry Yahya al-Mutawakel affirmed importance of giving Yemeni industry and its different activities all concern and care saying that industry sector did not get due care in the past. He noted that contribution of transformation industry in GDP does not exceed 6%. He affirmed government's keenness on giving this sector enough care and concern for realizing complete benefit of its promising capabilities.