Why Keep the Ministry of Industry? [Archives:2001/08/Focus]

Radhwan Al-Saqqaf 
Aden Bureau Chief 
The government’s commitment to involve the private sector in the development process has been accompanied by serious efforts to help it smooth away obstacles and difficulties. The privatization process which began in 1997 and the recent announcement of the privatization of the Aden Refinery Company are all meant to encourage this sector to invest in industry and contribute to the general development of the country. 
After selling all industrial sectors, one question may rise to the surface; is it then necessary to maintain the Ministry of Industry? 
Industry is one of the most important sectors through which strategies can be outlined to get rid of unemployment and to help lessen the burden on the budget. Therefore, maintaining the Ministry of Industry is a must. It should be noted that talk about the industrial sector includes those industrial institutions guided and directed by other ministries such as Fish Wealth, Agriculture, Education, etc. 
The present cooperation and contacts with the WTO also necessitate the existence of a specialized ministry to supervise and organize the work of industrial institutions. 
The Ministry of Industry can carry out a lot of plans to organize and encourage investment in industry through supporting national industry and improving its quality, etc. It must do specialized studies to be able to outline sound strategies to ensure successful industries, protect national industries from smuggling and the dumping of foreign products onto the market, specify standardization for quality, make studies and suggest ways and means to encourage and improve the national industrial exports, etc. taking into consideration that export is a basic pillar of any national economy. 
If the present Ministry of Industry is not well-aware of the above, studies should concentrate on reasons and solutions to activate and move the stagnant policy framework.
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