Hard times confronting the private sector and civil societies [Archives:2005/855/Business & Economy]

Specialists said that, the defiance which the private sector faces is not less than those which face the civil society organizations. This comes in the light of the declared government's policy for the involvement of the two sectors in the on going modernization.

The government situation could be described as hesitant – encouraging, to present necessary support for achieving effective partnership between the three factors of the social equation. The specialists think that the Yemeni private sector, like the NGOs faces domestic factors which undermine its partnership in the industrial and economical participation, because of the shortcomings of the public sector, which is obsessed by dealing with private sector with the idea that it is only a source of revenue for real state brokers.

Businessmen say that, their participation in investment according to the investment law which provides facilities and exemptions for local and foreign investors faces bureaucratic obstacles and lacks efficient judiciary procedures in resolving land disputes that arises between investors.

They say that bureaucracy delays their work and compels them to abandon their projects.

Those projects would have contributed to mobilize the economy, and solve the problem of unemployment, that is prevailing in the labor market. The businessmen accuse the government that it doesn't keep its word with them, in spite of the many assurances that it is going to make efficient partnership with the private sector. The sales tax is the outstanding example according to businessmen.

Those concerned with civil society affairs believe that their situation isn't better than that of the private sector. The declared legislations would lead to retreat in their development.

The formal hesitance in dealing with the civil societies, which sometimes supports and objects at other times undermines the development process of these organzations.This minimizes their part in leading the political modernization in the country.

Civil society activists, affairm that, the intended absence of the civil societies contributes to decrease their role. It limits the prospects of their participation in mananaging, helping and defending their community rights. If they receive the necessary help, they are expected to face the community development obstructions in the fields of knowledge, production and information. The double standard in dealing with the civil societies, will lead to drawbacks in the social and political structure, and weakens the civil societies' role in economical fields.
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