Yemeni immigrants and expatriates abroad:Key for Yemen’s development [Archives:2003/656/Viewpoint]

Editor
The other day I was talking to a friend working in the Sultanate of Oman. He said that the sultanate has developed rapidly in extremely high pace during the last three decades to a level incomparable with any other country.
“You just cannot imagine the pace of growth in Oman. It is incredible.” he said.
“Cannot this happen to Yemen as well?”
Well, looking at Oman's recent history, I found out that one of the key decisions taken by the country's leader Sultan Qaboos issued a call to all Omanis abroad to return to their homeland and take part in the development of the Sultanate. Upon receiving the call, virtually most Omanis abroad, especially those in Zanzibar, returned to Oman bringing with them their learning and skills, which were instrumental in the development of the country for the last three decades.
Why then can't this happen to Yemen?
Why not give expatriates a chance to participate in building a modern country?
With their skills, education, and eagerness to bring prosperity to their country, Yemenis in exile can play an important role in development.
I recall hundreds if not thousands of letters coming from Yemenis abroad, each one anxious to see his country develop and progress.
“We feel quite sad when seeing the level our country has reached. We want to join hand and help our country flourish again.” one of the letters said.
Our leadership, represented in H.E. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, most probably realizes the potential of Yemeni immigrants in building modern Yemen, especially as they have the skills and education needed in this regard.
The second generation of Yemeni immigrants should also be active in assisting Yemen's development.
Many Yemeni students and professionals have shown great talents in Western countries in their respected fields, whether business or science-based. Those must feel bonded to their country and want it to raise its development pace to cope with the rest of the region and the world.
However, they also need encouragement, support, and motivation by the decision makers in the country.
Let there be a strategy to implement drastic measures to encourage expatriates to return to their country with the knowledge and skills, and also assets they have to help build the country in the pace required. Those measures should include all the necessary reforms to guarantee a trouble-free stay and work for them, with no routine obstacles or bureaucracy that would again result in discouraging them from returning.
Finally, I also believe that this viewpoint is a starting point for many of our Yemeni readers, who wish to help in their country's development – and I am sure they are many- so as to begin thinking of possible means and ways to participate in building modern Yemen of tomorrow.
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