Yemen Monitor / Newsroom / Geneva:
The Yemeni government and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) met yesterday in Geneva to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, support Yemen’s vision for achieving sustainable development, and boost national production.
During his meeting with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, the Yemeni Minister of Industry and Trade emphasized the organization’s pivotal role in supporting development pathways globally, noting its significant support for Yemen during difficult times. He praised Ms. Grynspan’s exceptional leadership of the organization and her outstanding efforts in supporting developing and least developed countries.
Minister Al-Ashwal reviewed the challenges facing Yemen in the economic and industrial sectors. He affirmed that the Yemeni government possesses a clear vision for achieving sustainable economic development by enhancing national production and embracing trade and investment.
The Minister of Industry and Trade presented a set of important proposals to support the Yemeni economy. These included establishing a bilateral cooperation plan between the Yemeni Ministry of Industry and Trade and UNCTAD, based on conference outcomes, and specifically allocating Yemen within the organization’s support mechanisms for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), particularly in the areas of finance and technology.
For her part, the UNCTAD Secretary-General expressed deep appreciation for the Yemeni government’s efforts to promote economic development despite the challenging circumstances. She affirmed UNCTAD’s commitment to providing full support to Yemen in implementing its development strategies, and stressed the importance of continued cooperation among developing nations to achieve sustainable development and open new horizons for trade and investment.
The UNCTAD Secretary-General also briefed the Minister of Industry and Trade on joint initiatives between UNCTAD and the World Bank aimed at supporting the Yemeni economy, such as activating the ASYCUDA system. This system is expected to accelerate customs procedures and improve the efficiency of the tax system, thereby boosting government revenues and attracting foreign investment.
