An interview with Dr Abdulaziz al-Tarib on, Priorities of development and construction [Archives:2004/744/Community]

Yemen Times has conducted an interview with Dr Abdulaziz al-Tarib that tackled several issues but mainly focused on internal Yemeni subjects and sounded out his ideas and opinions on them. Here are excerpts from Dr. al-Tarib's answers.

Q: While celebrating the 14th anniversary of the Yemeni unity, what are in your opinion the steps that form a beginning of launching development in Yemen, recalling that many economically backward countries have managed to achieve great development after the implementation of reforms?
A: As a matter of fact, Yemen is capable of affecting many changes to market itself in Arab and international forums and has taken a number of steps, the most important of which are fighting corruption, combating smuggling and reconsidering its educational policy. Among other steps is close attention to the Free Zone in Aden, as investment has no homeland or boundaries. It moves towards areas where there are advantages and facilities and all countries have now begun to compete for foreign direct investment.

Q: Can this be realized on the ground?
A: It is possible if we believe in one another and each knows his role. Yemen is living in a more flourished and prosperous age after the unification, but it is in need of political will and decisions for fighting corruption, smuggling and unemployment as well as pensioning off a number of officials after honouring them and referring files of corruption and trying a number of them, as well as speeding up the modernization of the judiciary and prosecution.

Q: Does a loss of confidence remain the motive behind investment abroad?
A: Yes. This is a problem. Let's ask frankly, how we can demand others to come and invest here or there when many of us smuggle their money or the loans they obtain from banks abroad for investment. We have to realize the negatives of investment and its hindrances and then tackle them, because the world as whole has become places and sites for investment attraction.

Q: For securing transparency, what is to be done to prevent corruption?
A: Corruption has transcended the boundaries of Yemen and other states. We have to subject to accountability the leading officials in banks and state institutions in the first place and to adopt the reports of financial audits and what is written in the press. Audit reports should be the practical criteria in the process of sending persons or institutions to prosecution and court.

Q: How do you view reforms from abroad, (ie. The Greater Middle East program)?
A: We request the presidents and kings to acknowledge the idea of renewal, modernization and reform and also to define their bases away from foreign intervention. The most important thing is that we have to begin. Concerning Yemen, the President has publicly announced that he intends to create large-scale changes. The entire people are welcoming the idea and the President has nothing but to immediate beginning. Presently we are celebrating the 14th anniversary of the National Day of 22 May, and we have to prepare the people masses for the next elections and feel credible, otherwise reforms would be imposed on us from outside by the new world order that aims to protect its interests and investments in the region.

Q: Unemployment has been aggravated due to the lack of job opportunities to accommodate the increasing working and university labour force, and unemployment leads to increase the degree of poverty. What is to be done about this?
A: Collapse of any nation begins with unemployment and it can't be solved without more investment opportunities and the encouragement of businessmen to engage in projects capable of employing a great number of people. Unemployment cannot be resolved by conferences and statements or begging states and organizations. It begins with providing job opportunities commensurate to the increase in number of citizens. It needs an attractive investment climate.

Q: Do we understand that we need a working plan and program and both short and long-term strategies to translate the President's statements into actions?
A: Society is demanded to have a sense of responsibility and support the revolution the President is announcing in the bid to fighting terror, corruption and negligence and to seek the support of the abundant national capabilities. Nevertheless, there is no objection to getting the help of Arab and foreign expertise to support national experts towards the right goal in selecting the best means for investment of our natural and human resources and our strategic sites. There is no defect in benefiting from the latest achievements of modern science and the successful foreign experiments.
The President is capable of stirring up the stagnant waters and unveils those who do not want reforms and those standing behind terror and smuggling. He is able at the beginning to lay the foundation of the modern Yemeni state of law and order. We must not be afraid of going ahead with more reform. The President's priorities have to deal with the judiciary in its various apparatuses; prosecution, courts and police. Other priorities are the free zone and the establishment of a new board of directors, because it is the foundation of investment. There is also tourism and its impediments and there must be an independent ministry for it. Also, more interest must be shown in exports and the adoption of export incentives.

Q: Unemployment, surplus labour and early retirement are issues that deserve care and interest. Should they be among the priorities of the President's program in the process of reforms?
A: Unemployment is the greatest challenge facing many states and its proportion has reached 10% of those capable of work. Surplus labour can be rehabilitated and sent to the labour market again. The actual treatment of employment is represented in increasing demand for labour and has two main ways: the first is the effect of steady growth and the second is that growth should contain a great amount of employment. For instance, in China employment rates continued in rise by 10% for many years, and this is also the case in Korea and Malaysia. The demand and its increase for labour must be associated with improvement of labour demand and development of education and training, and this is followed in the countries that successfully tackle the problem of employment despite the increase of their populations. To have the increase in demand for labour achieved effectively it is important to endeavour to open new markets for locally produced commodities, products and services. From that derives demand for local labour and factories can then function with their full production capacity and here result in low prices. It is important also that economic policies have to include incentives of employment. For instance, France has recently followed this approach when it has announced its intention to grant employment incentives. We recall in this regard what happened in the nineties when it was decided to grant incentives to establishments that open work opportunities for graduate youths, such as the state offering services to establishments in marketing and others. Using such a policy is not only the duty of the state but is also of the private and civil sectors, such as civil society organizations. The President, more any other time before, is requested to render care to the process of reforms, modernization and introduce the system of consultative bodies in the ministries and government institutions and activate them as well as regulate their meetings. The ministers should fix one day per week for receiving people and listening to their remarks and complaints. Each minister has to have a specialized advisor in each sector to whom the remarks and studies are referred to, instead of hundreds of useless advisors. In other words, we encourage expertise and skilled people to compete for the interest of the society. The President should assess the local councils experiment, including their authorities and tools of authority and to introduce the slogan of “plan with us, implement with us and rule with us” so that each citizen in Yemen would feel that he has participated and is not an accessory of the decor of pluralism and democracy.
The political parties are demanded to form shadow governments and to help the government and the ruling party instead of engaging in political intrigues. Presently, the ruling party has to listen and analyze ideas and opinions of the political parties. Security bodies should not chase the press. We are in need of a new style of governance and press quite aware of responsibility and should analyze rumours and not repeat them. We expect much from the President and all of us back trends of political, social and economic reforms

Q: What is your vision of a better investment future, your future plans and schemes as an Arab expert and international advisor in the field of administration?
A: I believe that the real capital for the Arab future is the attention and care for the human resources and rehabilitating them in order to keep pace with variables and get ready for any new developments. I'm interested in the Arab establishments that are capable of understanding technology and entering into competition. I prepare forums, workshops and conferences in required specialties such as marketing and information technology. I nominate experienced leaders to obtain honorary fellowships to the European Society for Marketing and Development so to be able to conduct dialogue and consultation with those leaders and to create a new world of administration and modernization. Continuous meetings and discussion of concerns of the homeland are among my prime interests. In my many meetings with presidents, kings and heads of government as well as chairmen of establishments and companies I submit many ideas aimed at speeding up economic integration and rapprochement.
Once again I thank Yemen Times and I consider myself as one of your staff and as a soldier for the realization of reforms in Yemen through the Consultative Body to help and support the President of the Republic in the strategy of modernization and development.
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