ADEN: TWO DECADES OF PROSPERITY UNDER YEMEN UNITY

By: Hassan Kassem
Translated by: Bashir al-Slewi

ADEN, May 20(Saba) - The province of Aden, since the announcement
of the Republic of Yemen on May 22nd , 1990, has enjoyed the great
interest and continued care and follow-up by the political
leadership represented by President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

This presidential care has resulted in great achievements and
successes witnessed by the province in the political, economic,
developmental and cultural aspects and human development.

In the era of the great unity, Aden has restored its prestige and
its economic and trade leading role as the economic and commercial
capital of Yemen through benefiting from its important strategic
seaport ,international airport ,and container port, as well as the
Aden Free Zone that attract local ,Arab and international
investments.

This distinct presidential interest comes to achieve the
civilization advancement in the city of Aden for the economic and
historic importance of the city that enjoyed the privilege of
raising the first flag of the Republic of Yemen on the 22nd of May,
1990, which indicates the most expensive goal of the Yemeni
Revolution goals, September and October, to achieve Yemen unity, and
confirms the sacrifices and status of Aden and its role in the
modern history of Yemen.

As Yemeni people live happiness these days on occasion of the
Renunciation Day, that makes it our duty to refer briefly to the
most great achievements made in the province during the two last
decades in the key sectors of services ,development and investment
within the three five-year plans (1996-2000),(2001-2005) and
(2006-2010).

During this period, that is short in the process of developments,
the projects reached 3,048 projects in the various development
sectors in the province at a total cost of more than YR 738 billion.

The investment sector in the province has occupied, over the past
two decades, the biggest part of projects, where the total number of
projects licensed by the General Authority for Investment (GIA) in
Aden amounted to 1,667 projects implemented and being completed by
national ,Arab and foreign investments in the various sectors at an
estimated cost of YR 451.4 billion.

The Aden Free Zone came in the second rank with 39 projects at a
cost of more than YR 93.8 billion, followed by 18 projects in the
sector of electricity at a total cost of about YR 37.3 billion, and
311 projects in the sector of public works and roads and city
improvement at a cost of more than YR 28.8 billion.

The sector of higher education and scientific research has enjoyed
the State's care, where the implemented projects reached 45 projects
at a cost of over YR 11.7 billion, and 80 projects in the sector of
telecommunications and information technology at a cost of YR 11.2
billion, and 109 projects in the public health and population sector
at a cost of YR 9.3 billion.

In addition to, 48 projects in the oil and minerals sector at a cost
of more than YR 8.1 billion, 48 projects in industry and trade
sector at a cost of YR 9.7 billion, 227 projects in the sector of
education at a cost of over YR 7 billion, and 12 projects in the
media sector at a cost of more than YR 4 billion.

In the sector of youth and sports, the projects amounted to 23
projects at a total cost of YR 4.4 billion, and 105 projects in the
sector of endowments and guidance at a cost of YR 3.4 billion, three
projects of the Port Cities Development Program at a cost of YR 1.3
billion, and 25 projects in the fisheries sector at a cost of YR 1.2
billion, as well as 32 projects in the sector of internal security
at a cost of YR 3.5 billion.

Whereas the total number of projects in the sectors of local
administration ,justice, agriculture, civil service, culture and
tourism amounted to 45 projects at a total cost of more than YR 2
billion.

Besides, the province of Aden has recently witnessed more
realistic system to achieve objectives, policies, programs and plans
of the socioeconomic development, which reflected the successful
experience of the local authority system.

The General indexes of the investment program for the projects of
both the local and central authorities for 2010 have estimated
allocations at a value of more than YR 31.8 billion for the
implementation of 212 projects, among them 186 projects currently
being completed and 36 new projects.

Furthermore, an ambitious economic plan was set for the province for
2010-2011, which comes within the seventh priority of the State's
ten priorities according to the directives of His Excellency
President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The executive procedures matrix for this new plan was based on the
development of Aden seaport, Aden Free Zone, Aden airport and the
infrastructure modernization , as well as diversifying the economics
of Aden city through 55 projects in the different areas at an
estimated investment cost of YR 132.9 billion.

Thus, this distinguished city is entering the third decade of the
Yemeni unity age with confident steps towards the civilization
advancement.