YEMEN NEEDS $ 1.2-BILLION INVESTMENTS A YEAR TO MEET MILLENNIUM GOALS-OFFICIAL

SANA'A, Feb. 22 (Saba) - 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.

FR