Yemen, EU sign 2008 food security funding agreement

SANA'A, March 25 (Saba) - European Union (EU) and Yemen signed here on Wednesday €5 million financing agreement of supporting food security in Yemen for 2008.

The agreement, which signed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
Abdul Karim al-Arhabi and the EU charge d'affaires in Yemen Michele Cervone,
stipulates that EU offers € 5 million as tight cash subsidies via the Social Welfare
Fund (SWF) in coordination with Education Ministry.

It also included presenting technical support for strengthening SWF's policies and
capabilities.

After signing the agreement, al-Arhabi praised the EU's contributions to supporting
the Yemeni government's efforts aiming at reinforcing development process in Yemen,
pointing to the growing development in the bilateral cooperation ties between Yemen
and EU.

The EU support comes within the government's efforts in cooperation with its
development partners to enhance the social safety net as well as providing the
financial and technical financings, which will contribute to alleviating poverty.

Worth mentioning, the EU support is a part of other programs in areas of food
security and increase the agricultural production granted to Yemen to overcome the
global financial crisis' effects.