ESCWA finalizes preparing data on railway project in Yemen

SANA'A, March 11 (Saba) - Experts of Economic and Social Commission
for Western Asia (ESCWA) and Transport Ministry's team finalized
last week preparing data on the movement of vehicles, passengers
and goods in Hodiedah, Aden,Taiz, Mareb, Hadramout and Maharah
governorates.

Minister of Transport Khaled Ibrabim said that the data preparation
process has taken 15 days and represents one of the most important
phases concerning with setting up the feasibility study of railway
project which ESCWA funds at 55% of its cost within the frame of
technical support presented to Yemen and 45% of the cost is funded
by the ministry.

Ministry of Transport and ESCWA has signed a supplement of the study
contract which includes expanding the ESCWA's study area which was
limited to the international railway connecting Yemen with both
Sultanate of Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim said.

He added that according to the supplement, the ESCWA's study will
Include, in addition to the international railway, a railway project
which will connect minerals wealth areas in Jawf, Mareb and Shabwah
governorates with Belhaf seaport and another project linking areas
of population agglomerations with port cities.

Ibrahim expected that the study will be finished by end of the
current year, pointing that following that an international bid will
be announced for implementing the projects by (P.O.T) system.

He added that the procedures are going on speedily and in a
well-studied way, pointing to the strategic significance of the
project in achieving important economic profits and activities as
well as creating work opportunities for the local employment.

The minister pointed out that the issued law related to joining
Yemen to the railway agreement of ESCWA countries limits the
project's technical descriptions, demonstrating that the work is
underway with the GCC's countries for finalizing the feasibility
study of linking GCC's countries through the Sultanate of Oman.

BA/AM