Govt keen on enhancing partnership with private sector: official says

SANA'A, March 29 (Saba) - Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation Abdul Karim al-Arhabi affirmed on Sunday the
government's keenness on enhancing its partnership with the private
sector and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to form Yemen's
developmental vision for achieving the millennium goals by 2025.

Chairing an enlarged meeting of the government and representatives
of private sector and civil society organizations, al-Arhabi
considered the government's initiative to prepare a mid-term review
for the third five-year plan was required to meet the territorial
and international challenges and changes.

He pointed out that the review represents a major step to assess
implementation of the current policies and developmental programs.

In light of the mid-term review, Yemen has obtained advance level in
a number of economic indicators through achieving an acceptable
economic growth during 2006 - 2007, controlling the deficit in the
state's general budget, notable stability in the national currency
exchange and the payments' balance, al-Arhabi added.

The Minister reviewed the achievements under the reforms national
agenda' decisions in reinforcing the judicial authority's
independency, activating commercial courts, establishing a new
system for the government's tenders and purchasing, as well as
fortifying the Supreme National Authority for Combating Corruption
(SNACC).

Furthermore, al-Arhabi pointed out what has been achieved in the
civil service upgrading, and strengthening the government's efforts
aiming at improving investment environment in Yemen, indicating that
Yemen has accomplished a qualitative leap in the business
environment index issued by WB and IFC.

BA/AF