Industrial Zone Establishment to attract investments [Archives:2005/867/Local News]
Aden- Dr. Ibrahim Hamoud Alwadhn, vice president of the free zone in Aden, said that the establishment of the free zones was aiming at attraction of local and foreign investments and creating of new jobs in both direct and indirect way.
In an interview to Yemen Times Mr Alwadhn said in addition to that there were the Free Zone contribution to increasing rates of development of the national economy, use of local raw materials, increase of Yemeni exports, transit trade, development of proficiency, transfer of technology, creation of economic links with international companies and consolidation of industries inside the industrial zone, and other zones in the country.
As for the storage capacity in the industrial zone, Dr. Al-Wadhn said, “it is divided into a number of sectors.”
Mr Alwadhn mentioned there were other projects directly related to the free zone. Among those is the project of filling up with earth an area of 72 hectares square, which is situated near the container terminal to be implemented by the Development Company, but so far only 28 hectares of the work are finished.
The area is divided into investment sites whose areas vary from 1000 to 5000 square meters. He added this area is planned to be furnished with parks, electricity, communications, water, sewage networks, drainage and fire fighting services. Eighty percent of investment licenses in this area have already been granted.
The rest of the undeveloped area of this sector, which is 44 square hectares, was not furnished with services. This is attributed to the agreement concluded with Yemen Fast for developing the industrial zone in 1996. It included construction and operation of the containers terminal. The company concentrated on the port and neglected the development project, because of the lack of setting a time ceiling.
A number of investment licenses have been issued for investing in light industries and storage, on condition that investors themselves would provide services by making use of available services in this area.
Dr. Al-Wadhn said that sector “j” extends from Caltex up to the thermoelectric station. The area specified for light and conversion industries covers (800) hectares.
As for Sector “m”, 297 hectares square, is divided into 3 sectors, including the raw materials port, the storage area and conversion industries projects.
Area 2-3 of area “m”-12, 122 hectares square, is divided into four areas for the international exhibitions, information city, technology garden and a power station.
Al-Wadhn said the raw materials port lies in sector “m”. Its area is about (121) hectares square. It aims at establishing the raw material port near the heavy industries, petrochemicals and the main road.
He further pointed out that the general plan aimed at building a 2340-meter- long quay, with an area of (47) hectares and a depth of at least 16 meters, to navigable for ships of different sizes. The quay includes building of an anchorage for huge tankers and ships, besides planning an open area of 13 hectares for the dry goods and an area of 14 hectares for receiving and shipping the project's tools. Big stores for dry commodities and a special area for grain silos will be also constructed. There will be buildings attached to the port for fuel storages, administration and a fire station.
On the development of the industrial zone, Dr. Al-Wadhn said that it would be conducted through expanding investment area, within a process of dividing it into service areas according to market demands.
The Free Zone in the city of Aden is one of the fruits of the Yemeni unity. It became a fact as its rehabilitation is nearly completed, making it ready for contributing to investment and to be merged into the national and international economy. It will also give a big boost to economy, industry, trade and tourism. The industrial zone is considered the cornerstone of the free zone.
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[archive-e:867-v:13-y:2005-d:2005-08-11-p:ln]
