$ 1.2-billion investments needed a year to meet millennium goals in Yemen-official
The Source: sana'a/hadhramaut.info/sabanews.net - 22/02/2010
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Yemen needs investments worth $ 1.2 billion a year to meet the millennium goals by 2015, Director General of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation said.
Nabil Shaiban said the the millennium report prepared by the ministry stressed the importance of that donors keep their pledges towards meeting the millennium goals in the country.
The report, conducted in cooperation with representatives of governmental authorities, civil society organizations and donors, focused on the real needs of Yemen to face development challenges in the fields of healthcare, education, fighting poverty, boosting gender equality and woman empowerment.The millennium goals were contained in the fourth five-year plan 2011-2015, Shaiban said, adding that the ministry is waiting for comments from the bodies which took part in preparing the report to be included in the final report that would be issued by the ministry and the UNDP and put within plans and visions to meet the millennium goals.Worth mentioning, Yemen is among 192 countries implementing the millennium goals project. It issued its first report on meeting the third millennium goals in 2005.Meanwhile, the World Bank has expressed readiness to support Yemen through urging donors during the upcoming Riyadh Conference to release their pledges for the country, that were made during the 2006 London Conference.Director of the country bank office Benson Ateng said donors and the Arabian Gulf States should have a suitable mechanism to meet their pledges for Yemen.The bank will make sure during the conference that donor would speed aid to Yemen under a specific timetable to enable the Yemeni government to identify the size and time of funds it receives a year, he said, adding: at the conference, we will aim to set timetables for aid to Yemen and discuss economic sectors that deserve aiding, he assured.'The WB will also work to improve coordination with donors to help Yemen use loans and aid well.'On the other hand, the bank will provide $ 480 million in aid to finance developmental projects within the framework of the country aid strategy for 2010-2013.At present, the WB is financing 20 projects in the country at more than $ 1 billion, he said, pointing out that the projects, most under-construction, are in areas such as electricity and energy, healthcare, roads and construction, education, agriculture, public sector, water and urban development.Yemen has a big opportunity to get further aid from the bank if she continues to implement robust reforms and prove committed to use aid according to specified timetables, he said.
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