Yemen wants Sukatra island as free zone for Germany to invest in
Yemen-Egypt, Politics, 3/11/1998

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Tuesday urged German businessmen to invest in his country. This was expressed during his meeting with a German trade delegation led by chairman of the Arab - German friendship society.

"All opportunities are available for German investors to invest in Yemen in the fields of industry, tourism, agriculture, electricity, or health or in the free zone in Aden," the Yemeni news agency, SABAA, quoted President Saleh as saying, adding that, "The Island of Sukatra will be transferred into a free zone area with the objective of attracting trade, industrial and tourism investments."

The island is located at a distance of 400 km from the Yemeni coast and 250 Km from the Horn of Africa. Its total area is estimated at 3,850 square km and it has about 50,000 inhabitants, most of whom work in fishing.

In March 1995, the Yemeni government started economic reforms at the request of the World Bank. These cover government's suspension of several commodities price support, belt-tightening measures and selling certain state-owned institutions.

Meanwhile, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on Tuesday received the chairman of the Yemeni shoura council, Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani, who delivered a communique from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Following his meeting with President Mubarak, Abdul Ghani said he is carrying a reply message from President Mubarak to President Saleh. He added that during the meeting discussions centered on bilateral relations and Arab issues of mutual concern, especially the efforts exerted to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi Arabia, Yemen to resume border demarcation talks   (3/7/1998)
  Kidnapping attempt sparks discussion in Yemeni deputies council   (3/6/1998)
  Final touches for Saudi-Yemeni border-demarcation   (3/3/1998)

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