WB New Director Holds Press Conference [Archives:2001/03/Local News]

Mr. Mahmood A. Aysub, Pakistani national, is the WB new director of regional office located in Cairo of Yemen, Egypt and Djibouti. He came to Yemen on a short visit to meet with the authorities and get first hand knowledge of Yemen.
During the visit Mr. Mahmood met with government officials including PM, Planning and Finance Ministers, several others ministers, key donors, private sector representatives and NGOs.
A press conference was organized on Wednesday in which Mr. Mahmood highlighted relations between WB and Yemen, saying We are actively involved in Yemen with our portfolio being of the largest in the middle East. We currently have about 22 ongoing projects, with commitments of about $670 million.
He indicated that For the future we fully share the governments objective of focussing on poverty alleviation based on more rapid growth, and ensuring that the fruits of this rapid growth are shared by all Yemenis. We expect an average of $ 200 million annually during the next 2-3 years.
Regarding the areas of focus, he said Our main areas of focus will be water management, education, health, agricultural services, public works and capacity building, and areas related to the reform of the macroeconomic system, including improving the environment for the private sector development, civil service reform, etc.
In an answer to YT question about the real assessment of the WB of the economic reforms program the government of Yemen has embarked upon since 1995, he said The first phase of these reforms is always relatively easy as you will see the impact very quickly. That is, the stabilization reforms that were taken to reduce the deficit, inflation rate. As for these there is no question that the situation now is better than five years ago.
For the other measures and challenges such as water scarcity and management, high population growth rate, development of the private sector, education, diversifying of the economy beyond depending on oil, all take long time as there has to be an institutional capacity. They are also to be discussed within the government, Parliament, etc. However, I have heard from the government officials that they are really committed to implement these reforms. By their very nature they will take a long period before you see the impact. However, I personally feel comfortable that the government is really making a genuine effort to move ahead.

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