YEMENI EXPATRIATES ANNOUNCE SUPPORT TO HOMELAND

By: Sami al-Amri, Mohammad al-Ulofi and Mahmoud Assamiee

SANA'A, Oct. 19 (Saba)- Yemeni expatriates announced their financial and moral support to the government until it crushes Houthi rebellion in Sa'ada and silences secessionists in the south.

In the Third Conference of Yemeni Expatriates which started last Saturday and concluded its activities on Monday, the expatriates expressed their solidarity with the government and armed forces and their loyalty to President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The expatriate discussed in the conference investment opportunities inside the homeland and facilitations presented to expatriates to encourage them investing their money in their homeland. They called on the government to issue strict measures and be firm to eradicate difficulties facing them in this field.

They demanded the government to solve issues of lands and deter those influential people and create strong body to be able to secure their investments and making all procedures they need for one place.

They asserted the importance of scientific research and education outputs that serving development. They called for expanding scientific research and making use of Yemeni migrating minds.

Prime Minister Ali Mujawar, who inaugurated on the conference on Saturday with participation of 400 expatriates and representatives in 42 countries around the world, talked about three obstacles facing the country, Houthis rebellion, secessionist movement and al-Qaeda growing in the country.

He expressed government's determination by utilizing available resources and Arab and foreign support as well as contribution of expatriates to realize development and building strong economy.

In a speech he delivered in the conference, Mujawar highlighted national stances of expatriates towards their homeland and their honorable support to unity and democratic multiple system.

He affirmed that his government will take care of expatriates and solve all their issues.

"We are so keen on solving all obstacles facing expatriates inside and outside the country, adopting their priorities and providing them all care they need," said Mujawar.


For his part, Minister of Expatriates Ahmad Hussein said the three-day long conference focuses on three main points; taking care of expatriates, attracting their capitals to invest in the country and utilizing scientific qualifications to enhance human development.

He spoke about expatriates' investments in their country, saying investments in six governorates have reached 213 projects with the cost of YR 72 billion and that all projects across the country have reached 500 with the cost of YR 250 billion.

He indicated that the total cash transfers have amounted to $ 1,4 billion in 2008 comparing to $ 1,2 billon in 2005. He said these transfers have contributed with 5,9 percent of gross domestic product during 2007 and 2008 consecutively.

Meanwhile, expatriates' speech delivered by Abdurrahman al-Ameri affirmed expatriates' efforts in supporting the country's stability, security and development.

He called for more investment opportunities be granted to businessmen and ending all obstacles facing them. He also called for implementing recommendations made in the two workshops held before the conference.

The conference discussed several work papers aiming at taking care expatriates, encouraging them on participating in development process via investment and making use of expatriates' scientific experiences as well as means of solving all problems and obstacles facing expatriates in and outside Yemen.

Furthermore, the conference discussed several work papers, reports on expatriates, their issues, problems, difficulties and obstacles facing them in and outside their country and adopting suitable solutions and cures to these problems.

It discussed developments in expatriates conditions, means of dealing with them and boosting policies, issues, care fields, services they need and securing they make use of their rights included in constitutions and legislations.

Two workshops preceded the conference. The first workshop was for businessmen and the second for scientific qualifications in the country of emigration and in their homeland.


The two workshops discussed a number of work papers aiming at encouraging emigrating capitals and means of making use of migrating scientific qualifications inside the country.

A number of recommendations and suggestions have been resulted in the workshops. Then they have been raised to the conference to adopt them and included in the conference's recommendations and decisions.

On Monday, Vice president Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi informed the expatriates that the homeland is facing difficult conditions because of effects of the global financial crises and drop of oil prices in addition to internal problems. He addressed them to support their homeland more than any time in before.

He called to increase their investments in their homeland which owns great investment components in many fields.

Concluding the conference on Monday, expatriates raised their demands to the government. They called the government to stand firm against influential people who take over investors' lands illegally and provide security and protection to those who want to invest in the country.

They called for establishing a bank for expatriates and make database on the number of expatriates to inspect their issues inside and outside the country.

They called the government to provide infrastructure needed for establishing investment projects and demanded the ministry of expatriates to be in close contacts with them.