YEMENI OFFICIAL TO RECEIVE WB 2010 JIT GILL MEMORIAL AWARD

SANA’A, April 29 (Saba)- Abdul Karim al-Arhabi, Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation headed Thursday to the United States to receive the 2010 Jit Gill Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service.

The award will be delivered by the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Vice President, Otaviano Canuto on April 30 in an award ceremony during the Public Sector Day at the World Bank office in Washington DC.

Speaking to Saba, al-Arhabi viewed his selection as continuation of international acknowledgement of Yemen’s relentless effort, under the leadership of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, to advance the reform agenda in conformity with aspired achievements and national development needs.

The Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Public Sector (PREM) Governance Board has selected a senior Yemeni official as the recipient of the 2010 Jit Gill Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service.

During his few-day visit to the U.S., al-Arhabi said that he would hold meets with officials of the World Bank to discuss areas and trends of support for Yemen.

He will also hold bilateral meetings with senior officials of the U.S. government in the Department of State, the White House and the U.S. Agency for International Development to discuss the fields of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

This award is unique in the development community and is envisioned as an inspirational tool for World Bank colleagues and clients to recognize and encourage outstanding public service innovations.

Individuals are awarded the Jit Gill Award on the basis of having a sustained track record of public service; proven leadership and innovation which enhanced public service efficiency and effectiveness; demonstrated the highest standards of professional ethics; dedication and client orientation; and inspired and influenced public servants in promoting honesty, integrity and accountability in public service.

Al-Arhabi further commented “The success of a Yemeni citizen among a vast number of exceptional candidates from all over the world instills the trust to individuals and institutions in Yemen in their ability to excel in their performance as I have demonstrated. He went further to say “For example, the Social Fund for Development and the Public Works Project, considered as the best institutions in the world, and both may be the best. But the challenge remains in view of gains made by government institutions through transfer of knowledge and viewing them as reference for good performance and an encouraging tool for other institution to compete”.

This Award was established in 2004 to be awarded to leaders in public sector governance and integrity. The Award honors the memory of Jit Gill by celebrating the achievements of distinguished individuals who demonstrate the highest ideals of public service and translate these ideals into innovative public sector reforms.

YA