Successful Aspects of Cooperation Between Yemen and India [Archives:2000/22/Interview]

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Reunification, Yemen Times has met different presidents and delegations that have came to Yemen to participate in this occasion. Amongst those delegation, was the Minister of Small Scale Industries of India, Ms. Vasundhra Raje. Omar Al-Yafei of Yemen Times met her and conducted the following interview:
Q: What is the purpose of your visit to Yemen?
A: The main purpose is to participate in the celebration of the occasion of the Reunification of Yemen. I was invited by the Yemen government to attend and participate in the function. In addition, I have got the opportunity to meet ministers and discuss our mutual relations in various fields.
Q: What are the aspects of cooperation between Yemen and India?
A: I will speak about my Ministry. The Small Scale Industries constitute 40% industrial production in India. It account for 35% of our export about 31 million small scale industrial units and millions of jobs across the country. It was very important for us to give this Ministry a big status amongst the ministries. We find many of the countries we have relation and cooperation with have given a good deal of importance to this ministry. I tried to make it the life line of the industries. I am happy to come here and to have met some ministers. I hope that we could send some of our experts in the field to help the Small Scale Industries in Yemen.
Q: How do you evaluate the future of cooperation between the two countries?
A: Well, we have a very good relationship with Yemen. The time has come that we should expand and develop this relation. So far, we have talked about tradition and history that related to the two countries. We have to see that the aspects of cooperation between the two countries are successful. We also have to forge cooperation in such fields as the pharmaceutical services health, natural gas, and petroleum sectors. There are many sectors that we have to develop our cooperation in.
Q: You have met with some ministers. What was the result of your meeting?
A: Well, I met with his excellency Mr. President because of whose invitation we are here, my delegation and me. I have to congratulate the people of Yemen on this occasion and also to the president for the good work that he has been doing. I had the opportunity to meet him last year in 1999 when he was on a very short visit to India. I also have the pleasure to meet Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Minister of Industry, of Public Health and Minister of Social Affairs etc. All of us have talked about the aspects if cooperation between the two countries in all fields, especially in the Small Scale Industries. I think that it was a good idea that I was accompanied by some officers from our ministry, from the national small industries corporation who are studying the potential areas which sector would be useful to work with. We would like to have a discussion in this regard in the Joint Commission Meeting which will be held in September and October of this year in Delhi. Then we will market those industries through exhibitions. We would like to assure the people of Yemen of our best cooperation in such sectors which would be mutually beneficial.
Q: Do you have any project to launch here in Yemen?
A: I can not do or launch any project on my own unless it is useful for people of Yemen. But we are keen on making surveys to identify key areas of cooperation. We are very keen to see that this take place because we think that this will be the beginning for a new era of friendship for the two countries. Even if we bring in the goods and package them here, evaluate them in a way and then allow to be exported from here, we will also be creating new jobs for the Yemeni people.
Q: On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Yemeni unity what would you like to say?
A: I would like to tell people of Yemen that it is a privilege for me to be here, representing my government on such a unique day. It was a spectacular occasion. I think that people of Yemen would be proud of this. I thank the president and the government of Yemen to have invited us here and allow us to participate on this wonderful occasion. I am very happy to be here and again we would like to thank everybody for being warm, generous and kind to us. We look forward to further cooperation in health and other fields.

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