Friends of Yemen Group ends Abu Dhabi meeting

ABU Dhabi, March 30 (Saba) - Friends
of Yemen Group concluded on Tuesday its first meeting in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.
Deputy Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Hisham Sharaf, head of
the Yemeni delegation to the meeting, said the meeting issued a final statement
including
the duties of the group members and calling on the members to conduct studies and
mechanisms in two weeks on their roles and duties.
For his part, General Director of International Co-operation at the Ministry of
Planning and International Co-operation Nabil Shaiban said that the meeting aimed
at discussing
and reviewing a program for supporting Yemen on urgent administrative and economic
reforms that can help face challenges, mainly economically and financially including
increasing
budget deficit.
Speaking to the media following the event that has drawn large media coverage,
Shaiban said the current economic situation in Yemen pushes Yemen and donors to
speed action
to diversify income and budget resources, particularly non-oil sectors.
The meeting stemmed from the January 27 Summit in London and Riyadh February
Conference on Yemen and will be followed by other meetings on development and other
challenges
in the country including one in Riyadh in May.
During the first day meeting, Yemen presented a speech highlighting economic
challenges and touching upon economic and social plans and programs carried out in
the last
decades.
The speech also highlighted the reform priorities in Yemen topped by good
governance and boosting the national economy.
In the meeting, the United Arab Emirates, the host, reiterated commitment to
coordinating and collaborating with other countries to support Yemen.
FR